ATLANTA — For a lot of the 2025 season, there have been myriad query marks concerning the Braves’ center infield, particularly when the season acquired away from Atlanta and waiting for 2026 turned the principle focus for the rest of the marketing campaign.
Longtime Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies and newly acquired shortstop Ha-Seong Kim could possibly be the solutions to these future questions.
Albies, a three-time All-Star and profession Courageous, struggled mightily on the plate within the first half as he slashed .220/.290/.316. His efficiency on the plate drastically improved within the second half, although, as he entered Sunday’s 8-3 win over the Astros with a .270/.327/.456 slash line.
The primary-half offensive struggles referred to as into query whether or not or not the Braves would train his $7 million possibility ($4 million buyout) for 2026.
Albies as soon as once more reminded the skeptics what he can do on Sunday as he went 2-for-5 with three RBIs as Atlanta averted the sweep and its fifth straight loss.
Albies has 39 RBIs because the All-Star break (54 video games), in comparison with his 29 within the first 95 video games.
“It feels superb,” Albies mentioned. “Something to assist the crew win is particular. I’m simply placing good [at-bats] up, and I’m trying ahead to extra of these.”
The switch-hitting Albies continues to torment left-handed pitching. He’s batting .448/.467/1.034 vs. lefties since Aug. 26, and his 1.501 OPS is the very best within the Majors towards left-handers in that span (minimal 20 at-bats towards left-handed pitchers).
“He’s the actual deal towards left-handers and has been for some time now,” mentioned supervisor Brian Snitker. “I’ve at all times mentioned he’s at all times [going to] give himself an opportunity to get proper. He’s not [going to] panic, and he has unbelievable confidence in his talents and himself as a ballplayer. He’s the identical man on daily basis. You don’t know if he’s hitting .300 or .200 when he walks by the door and the way he does his work and the way he approaches the sport.”
Snitker has been managing Albies because the 28-year-old made his MLB debut in 2017, they usually return to ‘16, when Albies was in Triple-A and Snitker was the Gwinnett Braves’ supervisor earlier than being named interim supervisor of the massive league membership in Might of that yr. The 2 simply celebrated a milestone collectively when Snitker earned his 800th managerial win on Sept. 8.
“It’s a blessing for a supervisor [to have a player like Albies],” Snitker mentioned. “I’ve been with him a very long time now. He’s a beautiful individual. His spouse is an unbelievable woman, and he’s only a pleasure to be round on daily basis.”
Kim has spent a lot of the yr on the injured record and has performed simply 35 video games this season (11 with the Braves). He has a profession slash line of .242/.325/.377 and gained a Gold Glove in 2023. Kim hit a game-winning house run in Chicago on Sept. 3, the primary house run by a Braves shortstop since Orlando Arcia homered on Sept. 20, 2024.
“The extra I play constantly, I’m capable of get my really feel again,” Kim mentioned by interpreter David Lee. “When it comes to motion, I really feel good. I’m heading in the right direction.”
Kim, who signed a two-year, $29 million take care of the Rays forward of the 2025 season earlier than he was waived, might train his $16 million participant possibility and be again with Atlanta subsequent season. Braves common supervisor Alex Anthopoulos might additionally signal him to an extension to decrease Kim’s common annual worth. For now, Snitker will take what he can get with Kim at shortstop.
“He’s been displaying me one thing ever since he’s been right here,” Snitker mentioned. “I’ve been actually impressed together with his whole sport. His focus, what he brings, he’s a really spectacular man. … He does quite a lot of issues rather well. He’s a strong ballplayer.”
Albies has a locker subsequent to Kim and echoed Snitker’s sentiment about his fellow center infielder.
“He’s an amazing participant,” Albies mentioned. “Over the course of the years, we’ve seen him away from our crew. He’s now with us. He’s at all times performed onerous and tries to do something in his energy to assist the crew.”
