Michael Olt
Mike Olt’s baseball odyssey took him from the ball fields of Branford, to every level of baseball, amateur and professional, throughout the country, eventually reaching the major leagues in 2012.
Olt (2007 BHS Graduate) had a distinguished career during high school, starting at shortstop for four years. Olt led the Hornets to a 2006 State Class L Championship under coach George Dummar (2017 Inductee). Olt earned three All- State selections as well as two New Haven Register All-Area picks. Individually, Olt etched his name into the BHS record books with a school record 115 hits and a career .475 batting average. During the summers Olt would help lead the Post 83 Legion team to the 2005 and 2007 American Legion State and Regional titles and two Legion World Series appearances. Olt was named MVP of the 2007 Connecticut, Northeast Regional tournament and was selected to the World Series All-Tournament Team.
Olt followed his brother Brad’s footsteps to play for the University of Connecticut, where he continued his success. He was selected first team All-Big East in 2010 and second team Louisville Slugger All-American. He hit .318 for his UConn career with a school record 44 home runs. Olt led the Huskies into the 2010 NCAA tournament.
Olt gathered a great deal of attention from the major league scouts, and he was selected in the first round (49th overall) by the Texas Rangers. He began his pro career with Spokane in the Northwest League and was named to the All-Star team. He progressed through the Rangers organization, continuing to earn All-Star status in the Carolina League, Arizona Fall League, and the Texas League. By 2011, Olt was recognized as a top 30 prospect by Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2012 he led the Texas League with 28 home runs. By August, Olt was rewarded with a call up to the big league club. He made his MLB debut on August 2, 2012 and singled in his first at bat against the Los Angeles Angels. At Texas he competed with future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre at third base. He started working out at first base and the outfield, to increase his value and utility. In 2013 Mike was traded to the Chicago Cubs and earned a place on the major league roster in 2014. In part time duty, he hit 12 home runs for the Cubs that season.
Olt was the starting third baseman on Opening Day for the Cubs in 2015. Early into the season he was hit by pitch fracturing his wrist and would be sidelined. With the competition keen for the third base position with the Cubs, Olt was acquired by the crosstown White Sox where he completed a first in MLB history as the only player to homer for both the Cubs and White Sox in the same season. After his release by the White Sox in the spring of 2016, Olt would continue his journey and signed with the Padres organization. By 2017 the Red Sox picked him up, playing for Portland Sea Dogs (Eastern League AA) and Pawtucket Red Sox (International League AAA).
Throughout his career, Olt dealt with injuries that impeded his progress, but he persevered. By the fall of 2019 he announced his retirement from baseball. Olt would join fellow 1989 BSHOF Inductee Frank McGowan as the only Branford natives to reach the majors. Mike lives in Greenwich with his wife Lacey. He continues to work in the world of baseball as National Sales Director for Pelotero, a data driven personal player development app.
