The Braves have officially announced a flurry of roster moves in the wake of the Ozzie Albies injury.
The club has called up one of their top prospects in Nacho Alvarez, signed White Merrifield, optioned Eli White to Triple-A Gwinnett, and designated Forrest Wall for assignment.
The #Braves today selected INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. to the major league roster and placed INF Ozzie Albies on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left wrist. Additionally, the club today signed INF Whit Merrifield to a major league contract after optioning OF Eli White to…
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 22, 2024
Ozzie Albies’ injury is expected to keep him out two months, which is essentially the rest of the regular season. In his absence, the Braves will rely upon one of their top prospects in Alvarez, who has been tearing the cover off the ball in Triple-A Gwinnett.
Albies came into Sunday with 1.1 fWAR and a 98 wRC+, so if the Braves can get league average production from Alvarez, it will be a slight upgrade actually. Across Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett, he’s slashed an impressive .295/.398/.420. He’s got great contact skills and plate discipline.
One interesting facet of Alvarez’s game is his power. In just 27 games with the Stripers, he’s hit seven home runs; however, in 48 games with Mississippi, he didn’t record a single home run.
Another impressive aspect that the Braves could use is his base-running skills. He’s 21-of-24 in stolen base opportunities this season, an area Atlanta has struggled in since Ronald Acuna Jr. went down with a season-ending ACL injury.
I’d expect Nacho Alvarez to get the bulk of the starts at second base with Ozzie Albies on the shelf and Whit Merrifield to occupy a bench role. The veteran signed with the Braves after being released by the Phillies earlier this month.
He can play second base and the outfield, providing versatile depth for Atlanta but not offering much with the stick. In 174 trips to the plate with Philly, Merrifield lashed a putrid .199/.277/.295 with a wRC+ of just 65.
It’s a long shot, but Nacho Alvarez possibly being able to replace Ozzie Albies would be a godsend for the Braves. If he doesn’t prove it over the next week or so, Alex Anthopoulos will have to work some magic at the trade deadline.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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