The Atlanta Braves first baseman eventually locked in, but he fell short of advancing past the first round of the Home Run Derby

When Matt Olson was asked a second time about attending the 2000 Home Run Derby with his parents at Turner Field, Braves teammate Chris Sale quickly turned his head and said, “Wait, you were actually there?

Atlanta’s All-Star first basemen will be in the center of the spotlight tonight as he swings with the best that MLB has to offer.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was the first to commit to the event, to be held at his home yard, Truist Park in Atlanta. However, one day after the field was finalized, MLB announced that his teammate Matt Olson would replace him.

Matt Olson helped make the 2025 Home Run Derby a fun event with 15 first round home runs. Now, Ronald Acuna Jr. will take center stage, starting for the National League for the Braves. Acuna Jr. will be batting second and playing left field for the National League on Tuesday night.

ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson's Home Run Derby appearance came to a close after the first round Monday night. Olson hit 15 home runs, but failed to advance past the first round. This is his third All-Star appearance (second for the Braves). During the derby, Olson felt the admiration from the fans.

Truist Park has a hometown favorite to cheer on in the Home Run Derby, but it isn't the player originally chosen to participate.

Olson took some good cuts and the hometown crowd was certainly behind him but it didn’t translate into a deep run for Atlanta’s first baseman.

Matt Olson is living the dreams he had while growing up in suburban Atlanta. The Braves first baseman attended Parkview High School in nearby Lilburn, Ga., and was drafted by the A’s in the first round of the 2012 Draft.