The 2024 Braves might be the most cursed team I have ever covered, as far as injuries are concerned. Nearly the entire lineup has missed time at one point or another. The reigning NL MVP, Ronald Acuña Jr., is out for the season, along with the NL Cy Young favorite entering the season, Spencer Strider.
More recently, Max Fried was placed on the IL this morning, and Ozzie Albies is joining him after suffering a wrist injury in Sunday’s series finale against the Cardinals. Further tests revealed he fractured the wrist and is expected to miss eight weeks.
Ozzie Albies today underwent X-rays that revealed a left wrist fracture. He is expected to miss approximately eight weeks.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 21, 2024
That’s essentially the remainder of the regular season. There’s still a chance he will be available come October, but the Braves have to get there first.
Replacing Ozzie Albies isn’t going to be easy, but there are some options for the Braves. The first of which involves one of the club’s top prospects, Nacho Alvarez. The belief is he’ll get the first crack at second base in place of Albies.
The Braves are expected to bring Nacho Alvarez up to replace Ozzie Albies (left wrist) tomorrow. Alvarez has primarily played short, but his athleticism and instincts should allow him to make a quick transition to the second base position
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 21, 2024
Nacho Alvarez has been a hot topic of discussion as a potential replacement for Orlando Arcia at shortstop because of Arcia’s struggles this season. He’s believed to be the Braves shortstop of the future, so there shouldn’t be much concern about him defensively at second base. Since his promotion to Gwinnett, Alvarez is hitting .342 with an OPS north of 1.000 over 27 games. There’s a lot to like about him, and it may be enough to keep the Braves in the race until Albies is fully healthy.
If not, and Nacho Alvarez struggles over the next week or so, Alex Anthopoulos could also look for help ahead of the trade deadline. Middle infielder is now undoubtedly a position of need that should probably be addressed.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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