There was not much that went right for the Atlanta Braves during the 2025 season. Between injuries and underperformance, the '25 campaign was one of the worst Braves seasons in recent memory. It was not all bad, though, as Matt Olson enjoyed another big season.

The left-handed hitting first baseman earned his third All-Star selection and finished the season with a .272/.366/.484 slash line to go along with an .850 OPS. Olson also hit 29 home runs and a league leading 41 doubles. He appeared in all 162 games for the fifth time in his career and for the fourth consecutive season as well.

While he records quite a few strikeouts, Olson is about as reliable as it comes when discussing slugging first baseman. However, is this simply who Olson is, or is he getting even better?

How Matt Olson Improved in 2025

Olson's aforementioned numbers are impressive. His underlying statistics tell the full story of his improvement, though.

In some ways, Olson's '25 campaign wasn't especially different from his other seasons. His strikeout and walk rates were close to his career averages. The same can be said for his hard-hit percentage. 

With all of that being said, one specific number suggests that Olson attempted a different approach at the plate -- and it worked. For his career, Olson has often pulled the baseball or hit it to center field. He has a career pull percentage of 33.8% and he hits the ball to center field 49.9 percent of the time. Meanwhile, Olson has recorded a career 16.3 opposite field hitting percentage. 

In 2025, however, Olson pulled the baseball just 30.8 percent of the time and hit it to center 47.9 percent of the time. His opposite field hitting percentage saw a drastic increase, as he accomplished the feat at a career-high 21.2 percent rate.

It isn't a mistake that Olson's .272 batting average was the second highest mark of his career. By taking the ball to the opposite field, Olson rolled over less and drove the ball with authority the other way on a more consistent basis. While his 4.0 home run percentage was below his 5.5 percent career rate, Olson recorded the second most doubles and second most overall hits of his big league career.

Matt Olson was a different hitter in 2025 compared to other seasons. The results suggest Olson has taken a significant step forward as an offensive presence, something that should help him find success at the plate for years to come.