Reese Olson Bio
William Reese Olson, known professionally as Reese Olson, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born in Gainesville, Georgia, Olson was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB draft and was later traded to the Tigers in 2021. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and has quickly established himself as a promising young arm in the Detroit rotation.
Early Life and Background
William Reese Olson was born on July 31, 1999, in Gainesville, Georgia. He grew up in the Gainesville area and attended North Hall High School, where he developed into a notable pitching prospect. His upbringing in the same north Georgia region that has produced several professional athletes helped shape his early competitive drive.
During his high school years, Olson drew attention from professional scouts with his frame and his arm strength. His performance on the mound at North Hall eventually led to his selection in the 2018 MLB draft, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career. Details regarding his specific family background and educational milestones beyond high school have not been widely documented.
Path to Major League Baseball
Olson was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB draft out of North Hall High School. He began his professional career in 2019 with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he started 14 games and posted a 4–7 record with a 4.66 ERA and 84 strikeouts over 94 innings pitched. The 2020 minor league season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping Olson off the mound for the entire year.
Returning to action in 2021, Olson again started 14 games for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, recording a 5–4 record with a 4.30 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 69 innings. His development through the Brewers system caught the attention of the Detroit Tigers, who acquired him on July 31, 2021, in a trade that sent Daniel Norris to Milwaukee. Following the trade, Olson was assigned to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps, and was ranked the organization’s thirteenth best prospect in MLB.com’s mid-season 2021 update.
Reese Olson Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Olson spent his first two professional seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, working primarily as a starting pitcher at the High-A level. In 2019, he logged 94 innings with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, demonstrating the strikeout ability that would later become a hallmark of his profile. The lost 2020 season slowed his progression but did not derail his development.
After returning to form in 2021 with Wisconsin, Olson was traded to the Detroit Tigers in July of that year. The move gave him a fresh start in a new organization and a clearer path toward the major leagues. He finished 2021 with the West Michigan Whitecaps, continuing to build his pitch repertoire and stamina.
Double-A and the Road to Detroit (2022)
Olson spent the entire 2022 season with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, where he made 26 appearances, including 25 starts. He registered an 8–6 record with a 4.14 ERA and 168 strikeouts across 119 and two-thirds innings pitched. His performance was strong enough to earn him the 2022 MiLB Gold Glove award as the best defensive pitcher in minor league baseball.
On November 15, 2022, the Tigers added Olson to their 40-man roster to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft. The move signaled the organization’s growing confidence in his long-term potential and positioned him for a possible major league promotion the following year.
MLB Debut and Tigers Tenure (2023–2024)
Olson was optioned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens to begin the 2023 season. In 10 starts at Triple-A, he posted a 6.38 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 36 and two-thirds innings. On May 31, the Tigers announced that Olson would be promoted to the major leagues to start against the Chicago White Sox two days later.
In his first major league start, Olson gave up two hits and two earned runs over five innings while striking out six batters, though he took the loss after the Tigers offense was shut out. Over the rest of 2023, Olson made 21 appearances, including 18 starts, compiling a 5–7 record with a 3.99 ERA, a 1.119 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts in 103 and two-thirds innings. Entering the 2024 season, he made Detroit’s Opening Day roster as part of the rotation, beating out Matt Manning for one of the final spots, and made 22 starts with a 4–8 record, a 3.53 ERA, a 1.184 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts across 112 and one-third innings.
Current Tigers Era (2025)
Olson began the 2025 season as the Tigers’ number three starter. On May 19, he was placed on the 15-day injured list with right ring finger inflammation before returning on July 4. After returning, he made 13 starts for Detroit, posting a 4–4 record and a 3.15 ERA with 65 strikeouts across 68 and two-thirds innings pitched.
On July 28, Olson was placed on the 60-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain, temporarily halting his momentum. Despite the injury interruption, his work through the healthy portion of 2025 reinforced his value as a core member of the Tigers’ pitching staff.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Olson features four-seam and sinking two-seam fastballs, both sitting in the 93 to 95 MPH range and topping out near 97 MPH. In 2025, he has leaned on the sinker at roughly twice the rate of the four-seamer. His main offspeed pitches are a slider in the 83 to 87 MPH range and a changeup from 84 to 88 MPH, and he occasionally mixes in a curveball averaging 78 to 80 MPH.
Notable Events and Milestones
Olson earned the 2022 MiLB Gold Glove award as the best defensive pitcher in the minor leagues, a recognition of his work on the mound beyond just strikeouts. He made his MLB debut on June 2, 2023, against the Chicago White Sox, and secured a spot on Detroit’s Opening Day rotation in 2024. His 168 strikeouts in 2022 with Erie remain among the most productive single-season totals of his professional career.
Reese Olson Career Highlights
Olson has compiled verified totals across the minor leagues and at the major league level with the Detroit Tigers, including a MiLB Gold Glove award in 2022 and steady production as a starting pitcher.
MLB Career Highlights
Olson made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers on June 2, 2023, against the Chicago White Sox, allowing two runs over five innings with six strikeouts. In his rookie 2023 season, he posted a 5–7 record with a 3.99 ERA across 21 appearances and 18 starts. He followed that with a 4–8 record and a 3.53 ERA in 22 starts during the 2024 season.
Other Performances
In 2022, Olson went 8–6 with a 4.14 ERA and 168 strikeouts over 119 and two-thirds innings with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves. Earlier, in 2019 and 2021 with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, he combined for 19 starts with a 4.50 ERA and 163 strikeouts over 163 innings.
Reese Olson Family
Family Background and Roots
Olson was raised in Gainesville, Georgia, where he attended North Hall High School. Publicly verified details about his parents, siblings, or extended family background are not widely documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Olson keeps his personal life largely private. Verified information regarding a spouse, children, or long-term residence has not been confirmed by available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Olson entered the 2025 season as the Tigers’ number three starter, a role that reflected both his strong 2024 finish and his continued development as a frontline arm. Early in the season, he showed the same strikeout tendencies that defined his minor league profile, leaning heavily on a sinker-heavy approach to generate ground balls and weak contact.
A stint on the 15-day injured list from mid-May to early July for right ring finger inflammation interrupted his rhythm. Upon returning on July 4, Olson quickly recaptured his form, posting a 3.15 ERA across 13 starts with 65 strikeouts in 68 and two-thirds innings before a right shoulder strain landed him on the 60-day injured list on July 28.
Through the verified portion of his 2025 campaign, Olson remained a key contributor to Detroit’s rotation. His continued growth as a pitcher, combined with his defensive reputation and strikeout capability, has positioned him as a central piece of the Tigers’ pitching future once he returns from injury.