Healthy Olson 'frightening for the league'

A’s manager Bob Melvin has said on multiple occasions that he believes Matt Olson will win an MVP Award one day. If the first baseman’s performance this spring is any indication, that MVP consideration might be coming sooner rather than later.

Olson continued his tear through the Cactus League with a towering two-run blast that nearly took out a palm tree well to the right of the Tempe Diablo Stadium scoreboard out in right-center field in Saturday’s 11-2 win over the Angels. The homer off Angels right-hander Jaime Barria was Olson’s fifth this spring, which is tied for the most among all hitters in Spring Training.

Finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs as he also smacked an RBI double, Olson is now 13-for-32 (.406) with five homers, four doubles and 14 RBIs. His nine extra-base hits leads all Major League hitters this spring.

“A healthy Matt Olson is frightening for the league,” said A’s right-hander Chris Bassitt, who started Saturday’s game and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings. “Everyone knows how good he is. But you give him a full year of being healthy and he’s going to put up some incredible numbers. I think we’re all very excited to see what he can do this year.”

Despite a solid power output last year with 14 homers and 42 RBIs, Olson arrived to Spring Training voicing his displeasure with his numbers at the plate in '20, particularly the .195 batting average he posted in 60 games.

Even with the down year, the A’s still managed to reach the American League Division Series with key contributions from others in the lineup. They’ll look to make an even deeper postseason run as Olson works to get back closer to his '19 form, which featured a career-high 36 homers and 91 RBIs with a .267 batting average.

Working virtually with A’s hitting coach Darren Bush this offseason to fix issues he identified with his setup at the plate, Olson has seen immediate improvement this spring.

“I’ve gotten to a couple of pitches early that I wasn’t handling well last year,” Olson said. “It’s good to get out here and see those results in live action and get the barrel on some pitches.”

A’s find a home for alternate training site
Before Saturday’s game, the A’s announced that Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, Calif., home to their longtime Class A affiliate club, the Stockton Ports, will be used as their alternate training site for the '21 season.

Players will report to Stockton on March 30, with workouts expected to begin April 1. Though there are no official plans, the A’s have discussed the possibility of having their Minor League players at the site play exhibition games against Minor Leaguers of the Giants, who are expected to hold their alternate training site about 48 miles up the road in Sacramento.

“I’m glad it’s one of our affiliates,” Melvin said. “Stockton has been one of ours for a long time. You feel for the cities not being able to have Minor League ball last year. To be able to park our guys there in a place our organization is familiar with, it’s a perfect place.”

Injury updates
• Ramón Laureano took part in batting practice on Saturday, and is targeted to return for Monday’s game against the D-backs. The center fielder has been held out of Cactus League action since March 13 with left side soreness.

• Stephen Piscotty, who was scratched from Friday’s lineup with left wrist soreness, took a complete day off from baseball activity on Saturday. With the club off on Sunday, Melvin said the outfielder could return to game action on Monday or Tuesday.

Up next
The A’s return to action on Monday, back home at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz., for a 1:05 p.m. PT game against the D-backs. Left-hander Jesús Luzardo will take the mound for his third spring start. Right-hander Zac Gallen will start for Arizona.