All-Star Weekend

Over the month of July, baseball exploded in Atlanta. From the Futures Game to the Home Run Derby, Truist Park - home of the Braves - hosted the ultimate midsummer classic. Although the Atlanta team is out of the playoff race as of late (2025, between a stacked injured list and ongoing offensive slumps, has not been their year!), two representatives played their hearts out in the annual All-Star Game.

Matt Olson, the Braves’ first baseman and current iron man in consecutive games played (well over 700), got voted into the All-Star Game in the third rotation, after former Brave Freddie Freeman (starter) and Pete Alonso of the Mets. On top of that, he contested in the Home Run Derby, going on a huge run late in the countdown and finishing with a respectable fifteen homers. The stadium went nuts! The following evening, in the top of the ninth, Olson robbed Jazz Chisholm of the Yankees of a potential go-ahead double down the right field line, the “gold glove” staying true and making the game-saving play. Although we all would have liked to see Olson redeem himself at the plate, with a walk-off opportunity presenting itself in the bottom half of the inning, the National League took the win in a swing-off after technically finishing in a tie, 6-6. 

Ronald Acuña, Jr., a fan favorite in right field, was voted in as a starter in the All-Star Game after an incredible month of June, coming back from an ACL injury. In the bottom of the first, after Paul Skenes of the Pirates worked a quick one-two-three half-inning, Acuña legged out an infield single against the Tigers’ ace, Tarik Skubul, resulting in the second run of the game when Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks hit a two-RBI double down the right field line. Ohtani of the Dodgers represented the first run. 

Although he didn’t make a mound appearance due to a fractured rib, Chris Sale, the 2024 Cy Young award winner for Atlanta, was still a bench-warmer for the National League team. (He should make his first start back from the injury in late August or early September.)

All in all, July was an extra special month for Major League Baseball, since Georgia is the home to past and current draft picks all over the country. But the fun didn’t stop there! (Read my next article summarizing the Bristol Speedway Classic!)