Reese Olson Bio
William Reese Olson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023 and has quickly established himself as a promising young talent in the Tigers’ starting rotation. Born in Gainesville, Georgia, Olson was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB draft and later traded to the Tigers in 2021. Over his early career, he has built a reputation for strong strikeout capability and elite defensive ability, highlighted by his 2022 MiLB Gold Glove award.
Olson wears No. 45 for the Detroit Tigers and has become a reliable arm in Detroit’s pitching staff. Through the 2025 season, he has compiled a 13–19 win–loss record with a 3.60 earned run average and 269 strikeouts in his MLB career. He is widely viewed as a foundational piece of the Tigers’ long-term pitching plans.
Early Life and Background
Olson was born on July 31, 1999, in Gainesville, Georgia, where he grew up and developed his love for baseball. He attended North Hall High School in Gainesville, where he played for the school team and built the foundation for his future professional career. His hometown and high school program helped shape his early work ethic and his competitive approach to the game.
Coming out of high school, Olson was not considered among the top-tier pitching prospects in his draft class, but his frame, arm strength, and projectability drew attention from MLB scouts. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB draft, choosing to begin his professional path rather than attend college. That decision launched his climb through the minor leagues.
Path to Baseball
Olson began his professional career in the Milwaukee Brewers’ farm system, starting his first full season in 2019 with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Across 14 starts, he posted a 4–7 record with a 4.66 earned run average and 84 strikeouts over 94 innings, showing flashes of the swing-and-miss ability that would later define his profile. He did not appear in a game in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pause that affected thousands of developing players.
Returning to action in 2021, Olson was back with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and again made 14 starts, this time going 5–4 with a 4.30 ERA and 79 strikeouts across 69 innings. His growing strikeout totals and improving command caught the attention of the Detroit Tigers’ front office. On July 31, 2021, the Brewers traded Olson to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitcher Daniel Norris, sending him to a new organization with a clear path forward.
Reese Olson Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Olson’s earliest professional seasons were spent learning the rhythms of starting pitching in the Brewers’ system. After his 2018 draft selection, he adjusted to the physical demands of professional baseball during his time in rookie and short-season affiliates. His 2019 campaign with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers was his first extended look at High-A hitters, and it gave him a clearer picture of the adjustments he would need to make to climb further.
The 2020 cancellation cost him a full developmental year, but he bounced back in 2021 with Wisconsin before the midseason trade to Detroit. That move to the Tigers organization marked a turning point, as Detroit gave him a fresh opportunity to continue refining his arsenal and build toward the major leagues.
Detroit Tigers Breakthrough (2022–2023)
After arriving in the Detroit Tigers’ system, Olson was assigned to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps to finish the 2021 season. He was ranked the organization’s 13th-best prospect in MLB.com’s mid-season 2021 update, signaling that the Tigers viewed him as a legitimate future contributor. That confidence was rewarded the following year, when Olson spent the entire 2022 season with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves.
In 2022, Olson was one of the most productive pitchers in the Eastern League, making 26 appearances (25 starts) and posting an 8–6 record with a 4.14 ERA and 168 strikeouts in 119 2/3 innings. His defensive excellence behind the pitch earned him the 2022 MiLB Gold Glove as the best defensive pitcher in the minor leagues, a rare honor that highlighted both his athleticism and his commitment to fundamentals. On November 15, 2022, the Tigers added Olson to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, locking in his place in the organization.
Olson opened the 2023 season with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, where he struggled to a 6.38 ERA across 10 starts. The Tigers called him up on May 31, announcing that he would make his MLB debut two days later against the Chicago White Sox. In that first start, he allowed 2 hits and 2 earned runs over 5 innings while striking out 6 batters, taking a hard-luck loss in a game the Tigers’ offense failed to support. He went on to make 21 appearances (18 starts) at the major league level in 2023, finishing 5–7 with a 3.99 ERA, a 1.119 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings.
Detroit Tigers Rotation Era (2024–2025)
Entering the 2024 season, Olson secured a spot on Detroit’s Opening Day roster, beating out Matt Manning for one of the final rotation places. He made 22 starts for the Tigers, compiling a 4–8 record with a 3.53 ERA, a 1.184 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings. His consistency on the mound helped stabilize a young rotation and gave the Tigers a dependable middle-of-the-rotation option.
Olson began the 2025 season as the Tigers’ No. 3 starter, taking on an even larger role within the staff. On May 19, the Tigers placed him on the 15-day injured list with right ring finger inflammation, and he returned on July 4. Across 13 starts in 2025, he posted a 4–4 record with a 3.15 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings. On July 28, however, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, ending his season prematurely.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Olson relies on a four-seam fastball and a sinking two-seam fastball, both typically sitting in the 93–95 MPH range and topping out near 97 MPH. In 2025, he turned to his sinker roughly twice as often as his four-seamer, using the running action to generate ground balls. His main secondary offerings are a slider in the 83–87 MPH range and a changeup that runs from 84 to 88 MPH, and he occasionally mixes in a curveball averaging 78–80 MPH. The combination of velocity, movement, and a deep repertoire makes him a difficult matchup for opposing lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Olson’s MLB debut on June 2, 2023, against the Chicago White Sox marked the realization of a long climb through the minors, and his 2022 MiLB Gold Glove award remains one of the most notable defensive honors in his career. Reaching the Tigers’ Opening Day rotation in 2024 and being named the No. 3 starter in 2025 underscored how quickly he became a core piece of Detroit’s pitching staff.
Reese Olson Career Wins
Through the 2025 MLB season, Reese Olson has compiled a 13–19 win–loss record with a 3.60 ERA and 269 strikeouts for the Detroit Tigers. His first MLB win came during his rookie 2023 season, when he went on to record five victories as he settled into the major leagues.
Detroit Tigers Highlights
Olson made 18 starts in 2023, recording 5 wins, and followed that with 4 wins across 22 starts in 2024. In 2025, he added 4 more wins in 13 starts before a right shoulder injury cut his season short. His ability to limit damage and miss bats has been a hallmark of his Detroit tenure.
Minor League Performances
Olson posted an 8–6 record with a 4.14 ERA at Double-A Erie in 2022, a season that earned him the MiLB Gold Glove. He also made 14 starts for High-A Wisconsin in both 2019 and 2021, going a combined 9–11 across those two campaigns while continuing to refine his pitch mix.
Reese Olson Family
Personal Life
Olson married his wife, Autumn, in December 2025 in Gainesville, Georgia. The couple’s wedding took place in his hometown, reflecting his strong ties to the community where he grew up and developed as a young pitcher.
2025 Season Performance
Olson entered 2025 as the Tigers’ No. 3 starter and quickly became a key part of the rotation’s early success. He made 13 starts before a right ring finger injury sent him to the injured list in May, and he returned in early July to post a 3.15 ERA across 68 2/3 innings. A right shoulder strain in late July ended his season, but his strong peripheral numbers reinforced his importance to the Tigers’ staff.
On February 10, 2026, it was announced that Olson would miss the entirety of the 2026 season after undergoing a right shoulder labral repair. The procedure was a significant setback, but the Tigers expressed confidence in his long-term outlook as he works toward a full recovery. His 2025 performance, when healthy, remained a positive indicator of his potential to anchor the rotation in the years ahead.
