Ozzie Albies is living proof that size doesn’t matter in baseball.
Generously listed at 5’8″ in the Braves media guide, the switch-hitting second baseman has twice produced 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons.
The 27-year-old Curacao native, fluent in four languages, is especially potent against left-handed pitching. He led the majors last year with a .391 average against southpaws and has a .337 mark, also tops in both leagues, during his career.
Now in the sixth year of a seven-year, $35 million contract extension that contains club options for 2026 and 2027, Albies turned pro when he signed as an amateur free agent on July 2, 2013.
After moving from short to second in the minors because Dansby Swanson was projected as Atlanta’s shortstop of the future, Albies settled into the new position and began swinging the bat with authority.
Since his first full season in 2018, he ranks second among all second basemen in extra-base hits (336) and runs batted in (446) and third in home runs with 128.
He had 33 homers last year, helping the Braves tie a major-league record with 307.
Thanks mainly to the muscular sluggers in the lineup, Atlanta also led the majors with 104 victories.
Albies also helps the team with speed and defense. In short, he’s the National League’s answer to Houston’s Jose Altuve.
When asked about being the shortest man in the Senior Circuit, the affable Albies burst out laughing. “I don’t think so but I’m short, yes,” he said. “Altuve is short too. We played against each other earlier this season.
“I think he’s shorter than me but size doesn’t matter. You just have to play good baseball.”
Albies grew up in his island nation doing just that.
“I never thought about being a home run hitter until I actually did it,” he admitted. “That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, it’s possible.’”
Batting second, behind close friend Ronald Acuna Jr. in the Atlanta lineup, is perfect for him.
“I love it,” Albies said when asked about the No. 2 spot. “When [Ronald] is on base, he’s amazing. Anything goes and we get to score some runs.
“I know I have to be patient so when he goes, I’m taking. I’d rather have him at second base than first base.”
When both men are on base, a double-steal is a definite possibility. “I would love to do that,” Albies said before a weekend game against the Mets at CitiField in Flushing, NY.
Although he missed two weeks with a broken toe earlier this year, Albies could be headed to his fourth All-Star Game. “My goal is to win as many games as we can, win the World Series again, and stay healthy,” he said.
“The toe injury wasn’t a major one so it wasn’t too big a handicap.”
Albies avoids injuring his fingers on head-first slides because he wears hand protection while running the bases.
He’s never going to threaten Acuna’s 2023 club record of 73 stolen bases, set last year, but he could become a 20/20 man again, as he did in 2021.
“I work out, train, and try do the best I can,” he insisted.
That pleases manager Brian Snitker, an organization man who has been with the Braves since 1977.
“I remember when I had Ozzie in Triple-A,” said Snitker, originally hired by farm director Hank Aaron as a minor-league coach.
“He was hitting home runs and opposing managers were coming up to me like ‘Where does that power come from?’
“When we play the Astros, I see two of the smaller guys in baseball but two of the most powerful guys in baseball too.
“You know what? He’s a strong kid, there’s no body fat on him, and he can whistle the bat through the zone.”
No pitcher who has faced Ozzie Albies would say anything different.
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