Ozzie Albies is set to be a powerful hitter despite size
ATLANTA — Thursday was a dream come true for Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies.
Sure, it was his first big league opening day, but it got even better in the eighth inning as he blasted a 1-1 changeup over the left center-field wall.
The home run was like a premonition and a promise.
“I had a dream that I was going to hit the one,” Albies said. “And then I promised my mother that I was going to do it.”
At 21 years and 82 days, Albies became the youngest player to homer on opening day since Washington’s Bryce Harper hit two at the age of 20 years, 167 days in 2013.
As one of the youngest players in the majors, Braves’ manager Brian Snitker has recognized it as a trend in Albies’ development.
“He’s always been the youngest player on his team and he’s always been one of the best,” Snitker said. “He’s been a leader everywhere he’s been and an all star in every league he’s played in. I love getting to the park to watch him play every day. He’s so fun to be around.”
A lot of Braves fans are anxiously anticipating the arrival of outfielder Ronald Acuna, and based on the numbers he put up this spring they should be.
However, Albies has already started to do damage in Atlanta. Former Braves manager and Hall of Famer Bobby Cox has taken notice.
“He’s going to be a dynamic little guy,” Cox said. “He’s going to hit 15 to 20 homers in my mind. He hit four in the spring, something like that. He’s a strong kid. He’s not a big, tall guy, but boy, he’s packaged like (Jose Altuve) in Houston. Dynamic defensive player. Can steal bases, take the extra base. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has 50-some extra-base hits this season.”
Altuve was the American League MVP last season for the World Series champion Astros. He’s listed at 5-foot-6. Albies is listed generously at 5-8. Braves third base coach Ron Washington isn’t concerned with the height. “He plays like a grown man and that’s all that matters,” Washington said. “He shows up every day ready to work. I love that kid. He’s going to be special. That guy plays like he’s a giant.”
In 57 games with the Braves last season, Albies had a .286 batting average, .354 on-base percentage, and a .456 slugging percentage to go with six home runs.
During the spring he hit .303 with a .500 slugging percentage. He hit three homers in 66 atbats. The only Brave with more homers at spring training was Acuna, who had four in 44.
So how does a player weighing 165 pounds survive and thrive in a sport with monsters like Aaron Judge (6-7) and Giancarlo Stanton (6-6) ? Hitting coach Kevin Seitzer offered a simple answer. “His hands. He has amazing hands,” Seitzer said.
Seitzer was a good hitter during his own career. He had a .295 batting average and 77 home runs from 1986 to 1997. He’s also worked with my many great hitters and sees something special in Albies.
“He came up here ready to hit and that’s rare,” Seitzer said. “He just knows how to hit. He has great recognition. He’s made great adjustments once he got up here and spent time with me. We knew that he was a natural hitter.”
When Albies hit his eighth-inning home run he became the third youngest to hit one on opening day.
“It’s very few guys who can do what he does at such a young age,” Seitzer said. “He came in willing to work and, with his talent, it’s fun to watch.”
The pitch he hit the homer on was an 84 mph change-up and Albies was out in front of it. “I wasn’t sure if I got it all at first,” he said. “But I did and it was fun.”
It worked on Thursday and Albies expects it work more often.
“I want to win,” Albies said. “I’m happy to be here and I want to do things to make the team play well.”