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 recently 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 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.

Home Run Derby takes place Monday, July 14 to kick off the MLB All-Star break. The format for this year's competition remains the same as it did in 2024, where the top four hitters from the opening round will advance to the knockout bracket where there will be head-to-head matchups.

The MLB All-Star Village opened up over the weekend for fans to have some fun, play some games and even see some MLB legends. The fan village opens back up at 10 a.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre and stays open until 6 p.m., giving you plenty of time to get over to Truist Park.

Young fans at Truist Park shared their enthusiasm and opinions on baseball, with spirited support for players like Matt Olson and Kyle Schwarber.

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.