Ozzie Albies wasted no time making a statement during his rehab assignment with the Gwinnett Stripers, giving Braves fans plenty of reasons to feel optimistic.
In the first game back, Albies had an electric performance, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk in four plate appearances. But the moment that really got everyone’s attention? A clutch, line-drive three-run homer to left field in the top of the seventh inning. That blast gave the Stripers a 4-0 lead and served as a reminder of just how dangerous Albies can be at the plate.
A THREE-RUN @SoFi SHOT FOR OZZIE ALBIES! pic.twitter.com/cty4Z1Xawh
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 18, 2024
Now, before we all get too excited, there’s something important to note: Albies only faced left-handed pitching in this rehab outing. That’s nothing new for the Braves second baseman, who has absolutely crushed lefties this season.
In fact, Albies has been nothing short of dominant against southpaws, posting a scorching .343 batting average and a .912 OPS across 101 plate appearances in 2024. Facing left-handers is clearly in his wheelhouse, and this game did nothing but prove he’s still in prime form when it comes to that matchup.
What remains to be seen is how Albies handles right-handers, specifically righty-on-righty matchups. Here’s where things get interesting: Albies hasn’t batted righty against a right-handed pitcher this season, and over the last two years, he’s only had five plate appearances in that situation. Sure, he’s 2-for-5 with a home run in those limited at-bats, but let’s be real—those numbers aren’t enough to draw any real conclusions.
So, while his rehab performance against lefties was stellar, it’s going to take a few more at-bats, especially against right-handed pitchers, to get a complete sense of where Albies is at in his recovery. Given that he’s been forced to bat exclusively right-handed due to lingering discomfort in his left wrist—an injury that’s sidelined him since July 21—there’s still some uncertainty about how effective he’ll be upon his return. Albies suffered a left wrist fracture on a tag play during the ninth inning of a 6-2 loss to the Cardinals, and it’s taken him nearly the full projected recovery time of eight weeks to get back to game action.
The plan moving forward is for Ozzie Albies to play another rehab game on Wednesday before rejoining the Braves in Miami for their series against the Marlins. If he continues to show no signs of discomfort and gets a few more at-bats under his belt, the Braves should be able to welcome him back to the lineup in short order.
For Braves fans, Albies’ return couldn’t come at a better time. With the postseason race heating up, having one of their most dynamic players back in the mix could be a game-changer.
He’s always been a spark plug for the team, and if his rehab performance is any indication, Albies is ready to make an immediate impact when he returns to the big leagues. All eyes will be on him as he finishes out his rehab stint and looks to rejoin the Braves with a healthy bat and plenty of energy for the stretch run.
