A’s Olson More Prepared For Big League Camp

MESA, Ariz.—Last year, big league camp was hazy for Matt Olson.

The 21-year-old first baseman came into spring training with the Athletics not knowing what to expect, or where to go, or what he should be doing at all times, and the whole experience passed by in a fog.

With a Double-A season in Midland under his belt and his first opportunity behind him, the Atlanta native came into camp in February with a newfound confidence, and an ability to relax a little bit more, thanks to his added sense of familiarity.

“It was such a whirlwind last year, being one of the youngest guys there and my first big-league camp,” Olson said. “It just seemed like a blur. I didn’t realize it at the time but looking back at it I was rushed the entire time, wondering where I should be, if I’m doing whatever right. So it’s nice this year to actually be in here and be comfortable and just be able to go about my stuff.”

From the outside looking in, nothing changed for Olson. Oakland manager Bob Melvin was impressed by the young player’s poise then, as he is now, and looks forward to seeing what the former first-rounder does as the organization continues to send opportunities his way and add to his versatility on the field.

“He says that, but you can’t really tell because he’s one of those demeanor guys who always plays at a pace where for a young kid you would think he’d been in—even last year—in the big leagues for a while,” Melvin said. “So nothing he does would suggest he’s either nervous or we’re throwing too much at him.

“We’re even putting him in the outfield some this year, for a guy who we feel like is a great first base prospect for us. So if that’s what he says I guess I have to believe it, but it certainly doesn’t appear that way, because last year he looked really comfortable for his first big league camp.”

Following his longest offseason yet, Olson was especially eager to get things going at spring training this year, counting down the days to the starting line of the season after previously having played in the Instructional League and Arizona Fall League during his shorter winters.

“It kind of was strange to have a longer break,” Olson said. “I don’t know; I was kind of over the offseason towards the end of it. I didn’t think I would ever find myself saying that, but I was really ready to get back.”

Before anxiously awaiting his return to spring training, Olson spent his winter working out at the University of Georgia with a few former Bulldogs-turned minor leaguers. He also managed to sneak in one adventure that he might not have been able to otherwise, heading overseas to tour a new continent during his added downtime.

“I actually took a Europe trip for about three weeks, just because I had the time to do it this year,” Olson said. “I went all over, to London, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Barcelona and Paris. Florence was the best for me. We were there for three days, but overall (the trip was) three weeks. Other than that, it was the same old offseason for me.”

The trip followed Olson’s first opportunity in the Texas League, where he hit .249/.388/.438 with 17 home runs, 37 doubles, 75 RBI and 105 walks in 133 games for the RockHounds, a dip in production from his 37-homer, 97-RBI, 117-walk season the year before in Stockton.

“I didn’t think it was that big of an adjustment, honestly,” Olson said. “Definitely, the Fall League and then big league camp helped after the (high Class A) season, but the transition wasn’t that bad. Pitchers obviously command their stuff better, they know what they’re doing a little better, but other than that I didn’t think it was too rough.”

Olson has consistently continued to play to his strengths and utilize his plate discipline as a weapon for his squads throughout his four minor league seasons. He believes that his power numbers tend to fall in line with his walk numbers, based on how well he is seeing the ball, and that without one, he wouldn’t have the other.

“It’s a thing that I’ve always had,” Olson said. “(At Parkview) High School (in Georgia), my high school coach would get mad at me for walking so much because I guess he wanted me to try to expand and swing at some more pitches to help the team out. But it’s always been one of those things where I can’t get myself to swing at balls.

“I am picky, and it does come back to bite me in the butt sometimes, where if I think a pitch isn’t going to be on and it ends up coming back, something like that, but it’s kind of a dual-edged sword because I end up laying off a lot of tough pitches because of it as well … I understand it’s part of my game and it’s just what I have to do.”

Heading into the upcoming season with the same goal as every other—just trying to get better each year—Olson is hoping to continue his trend of being able to accomplish that objective.

“When I step in the box I know what I’m doing 10 times better than two years ago,” he said. “When I think back to my first full season, I had no clue what I was doing at the plate. I’m just a 19-year-old kid playing 140 games. I really didn’t know what I was doing. And I might be saying that two years from now as well, but I definitely know my swing and my approach better.”