Atlanta Braves Review 2022: Ozzie Albies’ Lost Season
In what was a largely successful season for the Atlanta Braves, there were still a few disappointments for the squad. One of the biggest disappointments for the squad this past season was the injury-riddled season that was Ozzie Albies. Coming off of a great season in 2021 which garnered him a Silver Slugger and All-Star nod, many were expecting Albies to have one of his best season in 2022. Unfortunately for Albies, multiple broken bones kept Albies off the field for most of the 2022 season.
How did Ozzie Albies 2022 season go?
As mentioned before, Ozzie missed the majority of the season, only playing in 64 games and missing the entirety of the playoffs. Albies started and played the first 62 games of the season before suffering a broken foot, and then recovered to play two games in September before breaking his pinky, sidelining him for the rest of the season. Even with all of the turmoil and injuries Albies had to deal with throughout the season, many fans still expected more from the second baseman. In those 64 games, Albies posted a .703 OPS and a 93 WRC+. Not fantastic numbers but a relatively small sample size could explain the dip in production compared to 2021. Most of Ozzie’s expecting stats such as expected batting average, slugging percentage, and weighted on-base percentage all indicated a dip in performance as they were all about 30 percentage points lower than usual.
Though Ozzie’s offensive stats were significantly worse in 2022, his defense at second base was sharp per usual. He posted four outs above average this past season, which was great considering how little he played. Furthermore, his four OAA in 2021 was better than both of his past two seasons in which he only posted three OAA in each of the two seasons.
What the Atlanta Braves can expect from Albies in 2023?
Albies should have the benefit of coming into the 2023 season not only healthy, but fresh and well-rested, a luxury many of his teammates do not have after battling through a hard-fought division race. Although it is hard to project how Albies will fair in 2023 after his multiple injuries, bone breaks are typically easier to recover from than non-contact injuries like ACL tears. Albies also has been very inconsistent with his hitting season-to-season, but I believe a great hitting season for Albies is in the cards.
It’s hard to bet against one of the hardest working players in the league. With a chip on his shoulder, Albies should be primed for a great offensive season. He has also become one of the most consistent defensive players in the league and that should not stop. Predicting how a player in any given year is always difficult and uncertain, but betting against Ozzie Albies in 2023 seems unwise.