Ozzie

Albies

Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed during a radio interview with 92.9 The Game that they’re picking up Albies’ option for next season. The 28-year-old second baseman underwent surgery in late September to repair a hamate fracture in his left hand — his second hand-related procedure in as many years. From a fantasy standpoint, the key question is whether his power returns after back-to-back hand injuries. He’ll remain relevant in deeper mixed leagues at a thin position if he looks healthy and starts driving the ball again in the spring.

the move opens up a spot for Alek Manoah on the 40-man roster. Albies is sidelined with a broken hamate bone suffered Monday.

Albies was injured during Monday night’s game and will now miss the remainder of the season. The good news is that he has an entire off-season to heal, but the bad news is that he has already suffered other injuries to this wrist, and so much of his value is based on power production, which is what a hamate surgery can often negatively impact. Albies will be 29 years old next season, so there is a chance the Braves may look to either trade him away or decline his $7 million club option if they are at all worried about his long-term health.

Albies was diagnosed with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand following an awkward swing in the third inning of Monday’s game at Truist Park. It’s his second major left-hand injury in as many seasons after fracturing his wrist last July. Hamate fractures are notorious for sapping power, raising concern for Albies heading into next season given how much of his fantasy value comes from over-the-fence pop. Another looming question is whether surgery will influence Atlanta’s impending decision on his $7 million club option for 2026.

It’s rarely a good sign when a hitter exits mid at-bat, and Albies departed in the third inning with apparent wrist discomfort after an awkward follow-through. The concern is it’s the same wrist he fractured last July, which sidelined him for two months. The 28-year-old second baseman will head for further evaluation and imaging to determine the severity of the issue. There should be an additional update on his status following the contest.

Albies smacked a two-run single off of Charlie Morton in the opening inning that increased the Braves’ early lead to 3-1. He also led off the eighth inning with a single and rode home on a two-run blast by Drake Baldwin. It has still been a disappointing season overall for the 28-year-old second baseman, hitting just .240/.306/.365 with 16 homers, 73 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Albies has been moved up into the heart of Atlanta’s lineup on the heels of a recent hot streak where he’s batted .293 (36-for-123) with seven homers, 24 RBI and three steals over his last 30 games. Rookie backstop Drake Baldwin has been dropped to the lower third of the lineup card to facilitate the move.

Albies kicked off the low-scoring affair by taking Cubs starter Shota Imanaga deep in the opening frame for his 16th big fly of the season. It was his fourth long ball from the right side of the dish this year. The 28-year-old second baseman has struggled overall this season, but is still on pace to threaten for his first 20-homer and 20-steal campaign since 2021.

Albies has had at least two hits in six of his last seven games. The 28-year-old second baseman is still on pace for a career-worst .244 average even after the hot streak, which should tell you all you need to know about the way his season has gone. Albies is a three-time All-Star, but after three seasons with a sub-100 OPS+ in the last four years, he isn’t going to be a highly sought after fantasy player next year.

Albies tagged Cubs’ southpaw Shota Imanaga for a 377-foot (104.5 mph EV) solo shot in the fourth inning that pulled the Braves to within two runs at 4-2. He also singled in the sixth inning. With his two-hit night, the 28-year-old infielder is now slashing an underwhelming .238/.307/.360 with 14 long balls and 62 RBI on the season.