Ozzie Albies returns to the Atlanta Braves lineup this Friday as the team begins a series against the Miami Marlins. After being out since July 21st with a fractured wrist, the Braves second baseman is ready to hit the field once again. Fans have been anticipating Albies’ return, and the timing couldn’t be better as the Braves try to make a late-season push.
Albies looked encouraging during his rehab stint with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. In two games, Albies went 4-for-8 with a home run, three RBIs, and a walk, proving that his swing is still in fine form. Perhaps most notably, he exclusively batted right-handed in all nine of his plate appearances. Batting only right-handed was a strategic move as he worked his way back from injury.
“Felt great. It felt like I never left the baseball field for two months.”
Ozzie Albies comments on hitting a homer during his rehab assignment with @GoStripers & rejoining the @Braves🔊 pic.twitter.com/v72xR3v0bF
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 20, 2024
His first game saw him dominate left-handed pitching, as expected, but the real focus was on his performance right-handed against righties—a matchup he hasn’t faced in the Majors this season. Over the last three years, Albies has only had five plate appearances righty-on-righty, making this a rare scenario. In his second rehab game, he faced an entirely right-handed pitching staff and went 2-for-5, showing solid contact and a good eye at the plate, even though he didn’t hit anything too hard.
As Albies prepares for his first Major League action in over a month, all eyes will be on how he handles right-handed pitching. His first test will come against Valente Bellozo, Marlins rookie right-hander. While Bellozo has been tougher on lefties, righties are batting .256 with an impressive .853 OPS against him, giving Albies a favorable matchup to ease back into action.
The rest of the series could present more challenges. Sunday’s probable starter for Miami, Adam Oller, has been a formidable opponent for right-handed hitters. He’s held them to a .196 batting average and a .596 OPS. Oller’s dominance against righties will definitely be a key storyline as Albies adjusts to this new phase of his game.
Miami’s bullpen only has one lefty, meaning Albies will likely face plenty of same-handed matchups, forcing him to find a rhythm early on. While it’s clear that any version of Ozzie Albies is an upgrade for the Braves, patience will be crucial as he works to re-establish himself at the plate, especially when batting right-handed against right-handers.
