While all of the Braves’ bats have heated up, there’s one notable hitter who has struggled — Ozzie Albies. It’s garnered plenty of attention from fans, who are concerned with the three-time All-Star’s slow start to the 2025 campaign.
Ozzie Albies is slashing a horrid .228/.285/.368 with only four home runs, which comes out to an 81 wRC+ (19% below league average), but it’s been the situational hitting where the struggles have really reared their ugly head.
In 38 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, Albies is hitting .235 with just eight RBIs and a .639 OPS. In 67 plate appearances with runners on base, he’s hitting .210 with a .575 OPS. That’s awful production, but Brian Snitker isn’t worried.
“You know what? I hadn’t even thought about that,” Snitker said, via The Athletic’s David O’Brien. “If it is (a bad month), then yeah. But we know what (he can do). Oz has had 30 (homers) and 100 (RBIs) before and can have some rough patches and still has a way of coming out of it. Oz is great with hanging with himself.
He doesn’t put a lot of pressure (on himself), and he has a lot of confidence and understands that this is a seven-month season and he can rattle off two great months and be right where you want him to be.”
Writing off a guy who has won two Silver Sluggers and been elected to three All-Star games after 28 games is a bit premature. He’s always been a streaky hitter, and advanced analytics have never loved Ozzie Albies, as Chase pointed out.
“Even in his elite seasons, he ranked in the bottom half of baseball in Average Exit Velocity, Hard Hit %, and Bat Speed… Additionally, I’m not sure how much weight should be put into the 2023 campaign. He started off slow before suffering two significant stints on the IL. In every season Albies has played in at least 100 games, he’s accrued at least 3.8 WAR, which is a reminder that it is only April.”
Brian Snitker isn’t worried about Ozzie Albies. Chase Irle isn’t worried about Ozzie Albies. Alex Lord isn’t worried about Ozzie Albies, and neither should you.
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