Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies exited Sunday’s recreation within the ninth inning as a result of a left wrist damage.
As famous by David O’Brien of The Athletic, Albies’s wrist was bent backwards when he tried to tag a runner out a second base amid a stolen base try.
The Braves haven’t made an official transfer but, however supervisor Brian Snitker instructed reporters (together with O’Brien) after the sport that Albies will likely be positioned on the injured checklist and that whereas additional analysis needed, the outlook on the damage is “not good.”
The lack of Albies is one other devastating blow to a Braves membership that has already seen each reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. and right-handed ace Spencer Strider endure season-ending surgical procedure. With Albies set to hitch that duo in addition to heart fielder Michael Harris II and star lefty Max Fried on the shelf, the Braves will limp in direction of the commerce deadline defending a four-game lead within the NL wild-card race with out 5 of their greatest stars.
Whereas Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez have stepped up this season as front-of-the-rotation arms and Jarred Kelenic has carried out admirably since being thrust into an on a regular basis position because the membership’s heart fielder instead of Harris, there are not any apparent options for changing Albies on the membership’s energetic roster.
Even common offensive manufacturing can be an enough substitute for Albies on the plate, because the 27-year-old has been coping with a little bit of a down season this yr. In 89 video games this season, the infielder has slashed a roughly league common .255/.308/.403 throughout 390 journeys to the plate.
Even so, the membership’s dearth of high quality infield depth signifies that the Braves are more likely to be scrambling for options in Albies’s absence, notably if it proves to be a prolonged one as Snitker implied.
Earlier this yr, infielder Zack Quick was tapped to deal with third base instead of an injured Austin Riley and rose to the decision successfully. Whereas he has expertise at second base as effectively, he’s slumped badly in bench position since Riley’s return to the lineup and sports activities a slash line of simply .077/.250/.077 for the reason that begin of June.
That would lead the Braves to look towards the minor leagues. The membership turned to David Fletcher in a utility position earlier this yr, however he’s not on the 40-man roster and has begun trying to transform to pitching on the Double-A stage, suggesting he’s unlikely to be known as as much as exchange Albies.
One choice at present on the 40-man can be infielder Luke Williams, though his profession .220/.280/.287 slash line within the majors actually leaves one thing to be desired.
Maybe essentially the most thrilling strikes the Braves might make, barring a commerce to enhance the membership’s general infield combine, can be the promotion of high infield prospect Nacho Alvarez. Alvarez is ranked because the membership’s No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline and has lit up the scoreboards within the minor leagues this yr.
In 75 video games cut up between the Double- and Triple-A ranges this yr, the 21-year-old has slashed an eye-opening .295/.398/.420 whereas going 21-for-24 on the basepaths. One potential hiccup in that plan can be Alvarez’s full lack of expertise at second base, although the membership might at all times plug him in at shortstop and shift veteran Orlando Arcia, who performed 50 video games for the Braves on the keystone in 2022, over to the fitting aspect of the infield alongside first baseman Matt Olson.
It’s potential {that a} prolonged absence for Albies might immediate the Braves to discover the infield market, notably if the membership feels Alvarez isn’t prepared for his massive league debut.
Items akin to Amed Rosario of the Rays and Brandon Drury of the Angels are among the many veteran leases who may very well be made obtainable this summer time, though the Rays have gone 6-3 over their final 9 video games to place themselves again into competition whereas Drury has suffered by way of an abysmal season on the plate this yr.
With clear wants within the beginning rotation and outfield as effectively, it’s potential at Atlanta brass choose as an alternative to depend on their inner choices on the keystone whereas Albies is injured, as an alternative working so as to add an outfield who can exchange Acuna whereas taking stress off of Kelenic and Adam Duvall, each of whom have been pressured into on a regular basis roles by accidents after beginning the season as platoon companions.
