Braves Country has seen All-Stars leave Atlanta in back-to-back offseasons. Freddie Freeman, who spent every waking moment of his big league career with the organization before 2022, left for sunny Los Angeles. And now, Dansby Swanson has departed for windy Chicago. Both were fan favorites and had been with the Braves for what felt like a lifetime.
Freeman was the longest-tenured Brave for a while after Chipper Jones retired. And honestly, he should’ve been a Brave for life, but I digress. When he left, Swanson took the reins as the longest-tenured player, and for the third time in as many years, the Braves will have a different longest-tenured player in 2023. MLB.com recently recognized each club’s player, and Ozzie Albies now has been with the club the longest.
Braves:Â Ozzie Albies
Date acquired:Â July 2, 2013
MLB debut:Â Aug. 1, 2017
Ozzie Albies will be 26 for the 2023 season, which makes him a greybeard amongst a lot of these Braves.
I included that quote because it’s pretty funny. Albies might not be the oldest one on the roster — Charlie Morton, Tavis d’Arnaud — but he is undoubtedly a veteran leader. The team sorely missed his presence on the diamond and in the locker room last season while he recovered from multiple injuries. Albies provides stellar vibes, a voice that carries weight, and excellent production in most facets of the game. You probably couldn’t dream of going from Freeman to Swanson to Ozzie Albies as the longest-tenured player; all have equally impressive tangible and intangible traits.
—
Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.