Meet Matt Olson, the All-or-Nothing Slugger on Pace to Shatter MLB Strikeout Record

Casual baseball fans have never heard of Oakland A’s first baseman Matt Olson. Hardcore baseball fans? Maybe.

You should learn his name, though. Partly because he’s a legit power hitter, but mostly because when he’s not hitting dingers, he’s striking out at a ridiculous pace.

Right now, through 19 games, Olson has an absurd amount of K’s: 32.

At that rate, the 6-foot-5 lefty is on pace for 273 strikeouts this year — 50 more than the MLB record (Mark Reynolds, 2009). Out of his 19 games so far, he’s only gone K-less in two games and has had at least two K’s in 11 games. He’s whiffed three times on four separate occasions.

On the other hand, he can drop bombs. While he’s only gone deep three times this year, Olson hit 24 home runs in just 59 games last season. That’s as unbelievable as his strikeout numbers. It should be noted that while he’s on pace for 273 K’s, he’s hitting a respectable .274 and is on pace to hit 26 homers.

Oakland is 9-10 so far this season.