Atlanta Braves: 5 internal options to replace injured second baseman Ozzie Albies
By Matt Melton
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies went down with an injury on Monday night. Who are some internal options that could see time at second base in Albies’ absence?
The Atlanta Braves will be tasked with replacing star second baseman Ozzie Albies for the foreseeable future after suffering an injury on Monday night.
While a trade seems the likeliest to happen to do this, the Braves do however have a few internal options capable of taking over the starting role in the short-term. Who are those options, and what have they done so far this season?
5 Atlanta Braves internal options to replace injured Ozzie Albies
Orlando Arcia
The player who came in to replace Albies on Monday night at second base, Arcia you could say is the likeliest choice to takeover as the starter for the foreseeable future. However, for a seven-year MLB veteran who has appeared in over 500 career games at shortstop in the major leagues, Arcia has only appeared in a total of 50 games at second base in his entire professional career, three of which have come in the majors (two this season).
Even despite the lack of major league experience, Arcia has the defensive skillset to have success at second base. Looking at the offense as well, the 27-year-old has had success this season in limited action, slashing .313/.393/.458 across 17 games.
Kramer Robertson
The only other middle infielder currently on the Braves 40-man roster is Robertson, whom Atlanta claimed off of waivers from the Cardinals earlier this month. The former fourth round pick in 2017 out of LSU has extensive experience at both middle infield positions, and comes to Atlanta as a career .247/.359/.368 minor league hitter, one who made his MLB debut with St. Louis earlier this season appearing in two games.
Braden Shewmake
Likely the most-intriguing internal option, could the Braves potentially call-up their No. 5 prospect to the big leagues? Atlanta’s former first round pick in 2019 out of Texas A&M, Shewmake has slashed a combined .266/.320/.384 across 48 games in Triple-A so far this season, but has not played second base since his freshman season with the Aggies back in 2017.
Phil Gosselin
A player who spent the first six years of his professional career in Atlanta after being drafted by the Braves in 2010, Gosselin has spent the 2022 season so far in Triple-A Gwinnett where he has slashed .297/.358/.473. While he would have to be added to the 40-man roster similar to Shewmake, it feels likely that Gosselin, a veteran utility player with 105 games of second base MLB experience, could return to the big leagues with Atlanta at some point in the near future.
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Pat Valaika
Another veteran utility option that we could see in Atlanta at some point is Valaika, who similar to Gosselin, was also signed by the Braves to a minor league deal in the offseason. Also having extensive experience at second base, Valaika has enjoyed a strong start to the year in Triple-A slashing .268/.324/.452.