In today's article we are going to talk about Mike Olt. Mike Olt is a topic that has aroused interest and controversy over the years, and it is important to know all its aspects in order to understand its impact on society. In the following lines, we are going to explore its origin, evolution, and its relevance today. Mike Olt is a topic that has been studied by different disciplines, which will allow us to have a broad and complete vision of it. In addition, we will see how it has influenced various aspects of daily life, and what the future prospects are. Without a doubt, Mike Olt is a fascinating topic worth exploring in depth.
Before the 2012 season, MLB.com ranked him as the 43rd best prospect in baseball. Olt began the season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Class AATexas League, and was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game. After he batted .287 with 27 home runs and 81 runs batted in (RBIs) for Frisco, the Rangers promoted Olt to the major leagues on August 2. In his debut, Olt recorded a hit in his first at-bat, and went 1-for-3. On August 11, he hit a pinch hit walk-off single to beat the Tigers, 2-1.
The Rangers optioned Olt to the Round Rock Express of the Class AAAPacific Coast League (PCL) during spring training in 2013. He struggled to begin the season, batting .139 through April 25. He reported problems with depth perception, which specialists indicated could be the result of a concussion. When it was discovered that a lacrimal gland wasn't producing tears, he was given eye drops, which corrected the vision problem. He returned to Round Rock on June 3.
Chicago Cubs
After batting .213 at Round Rock, the Rangers traded Olt to the Chicago Cubs on July 22, 2013, with Justin Grimm, C. J. Edwards, and a player to be named later (Neil Ramirez), in exchange for Matt Garza. Olt reported to the Iowa Cubs of the PCL. He batted .168 in 152 plate appearances with Iowa. He attempted to find a new way to treat his vision problem, as the eye drops he was given raise the chances of developing glaucoma.
At the start of spring training in 2014, Olt reported that his vision problems had been resolved. Olt competed for the starting third base job with the Cubs. He made the Cubs' Opening Day roster, though Cubs' managerRick Renteria suggested that Olt would split playing time at third base with Luis Valbuena. Olt hit his first major league home run on April 3, and his first grand slam on May 8. Olt was demoted back to Iowa on July 23, 2014 after posting a .139 batting average for the 2014 season. Twelve of his 31 hits were home runs by the time he was demoted, setting an all-time MLB season record for most home runs hit by a batter with an average below .170.
With Valbuena traded in the offseason, the Cubs opened the 2015 season with Olt as their starting third baseman, and top prospect Kris Bryant starting the year in Iowa. On April 17, Olt was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hairline fracture in his right wrist, and Bryant was called up to replace him. He was moved to the 60-day disabled list four days later. Olt returned to play with Iowa and was designated for assignment on August 31.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox claimed Olt off of waivers on September 5, 2015, and inserted him into their lineup at third base the next day. Olt batted .203 in 24 games for the White Sox. On September 16, Olt hit a home run, becoming the only player in MLB history to hit a home run for both Chicago MLB teams in the same season.
During the 2015-16 offseason, the White Sox acquired Todd Frazier as their third baseman. They designated Olt for assignment during spring training, after he had batted 1-for-10 in spring training games. The White Sox released Olt on March 15.
Olt signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on February 7, 2017. He played in 113 games for the Double–A Portland Sea Dogs, hitting .245/.332/.436 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.
Olt signed a new minor league contract with Boston on December 27, 2017. He played in 74 games between Portland and the Triple–A Pawtucket Red Sox, accumulating a .214/.346/.412 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. Olt elected free agency following the season on November 3, 2018.
Olt's brother, Brad, was a teammate of Mike's with the Huskies. Brad also played baseball professionally for the Bad Homburg Hornets in the German Bundesliga.