From Lilburn to the Big Leagues: the Olson Brothers' Baseball Story
By James H. Sterling
While Zack was mastering Ivy League lineups and coursework, Matt transformed into one of the most feared high school hitters in the country. Standing 6-foot-5 with natural leverage, Matt anchored Parkview's lineups during back-to-back Georgia Class 5A state championship runs in 2011 and 2012.
Matt originally committed to play collegiate baseball under Tim Corbin at Vanderbilt University, a national powerhouse that would have kept him on an elite collegiate path. However, professional scouts flocked to Parkview games during his senior spring, transfixed by his raw power and refined glove work at first base. In June 2012, Oakland made him a compensatory first-round selection with the 47th overall pick.
The decision to turn professional required an honest assessment of his readiness. Matt chose the grueling minor league path, spending five seasons riding buses across Vermont, Wisconsin, California, and Tennessee before securing a permanent spot in Oakland's lineup in 2017.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
