Where is Matt Olson from?

The Atlanta Braves have traded for hometown hero Matt Olson of the Oakland Athletics.

While trading for Matt Olson of the Oakland Athletics means Freddie Freeman is gone, it is a homecoming for the new Atlanta Braves first baseman.

Olson returns to Atlanta in a blockbuster trade that sends Cristian Pache, Shea Langeliers, Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes to Oakland. Though Atlanta will be Olson’s second big-league team, he grew up in Gwinnett County and starred at Parkview High School in Lilburn. He won back-to-back state championships in 2011 to 2012 before being drafted out of high school by the A’s organization.

Had Olson decided to go to college, he would have played for SEC powerhouse Vanderbilt.

Atlanta Braves new first baseman Matt Olson: Where is he from?

While youth baseball is a huge deal in the Metro Atlanta Area, Olson happens to share the same alma mater with former Braves outfielder and current color commentator Jeff Francoeur. Parkview is one of the preeminent baseball programs in the state. Olson was born in Atlanta on March 29, 1994. Though he has big shoes to fill replacing Freeman, playing for Atlanta is a dream come true.

Ultimately, this was the only acceptable alternative move Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos could have made besides re-signing Freeman in the first place. Because Olson is younger and an All-Star player himself, it makes sense on paper to do this trade if Freeman was too pricey. Of course, there are emotions involved. Losing Freeman stinks, but Olson will be fine.

Without debate, Olson growing up in Braves Country is a huge reason why the trade was made.