It's been tough to watch the Atlanta Braves struggle this season. They haven't really received the production they expected out of their roster. The magic the team found in 2023 has yet to be replicated, although they may be on their way towards doing so at least with one particular pairing on the roster.
Ozzie Albies' start to the season was extremely rough and no one should try to argue otherwise. Through the first 49 games, Albies slashed .226/.286/.333 with five HR, 17 RBI, 16 BB, 33 K, and a .620 OPS. Those are not numbers you want from one of your most experienced players and a guy that was once among the best hitting second basemen in baseball.
Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. may have been the catalyst for Ozzie Albies' recent hot streak
However, things have changed since his best buddy Ronald Acuña Jr. returned from the injured list. Since Acuna was added back to the lineup, Albies has completed a 24-game on-base streak and batted .254/.373/.349 with 16 hits. Those hits include three 2B, one HR, eight RBI, 11 BB, 13 K, and a 111 wRC+.
Now, his slugging percentage and OPS haven't changed very much, and that needs to improve. But he's getting on base more often and making more contact. Most importantly, he's cut down on the strikeouts.
Whether Acuña's return sparked this or not, we will never truly know. Hitting coach Tim Hyers has worked with Albies to fix his approach at the plate. But it is hard to deny that Acuña and Albies feed off of each other.
Their bromance is well documented, and they have always seemed to bring out the best in one another. It's interesting to see, as Acuña has always performed extremely well when Albies is in the lineup.
According to StatMuse, Acuna has a .297 batting average over 609 career games with Albies. This includes 707 hits, 151 home runs, 377 RBI, and 506 runs scored.
On the opposite end, Albies has a .276 average over 609 games, with 663 hits, 96 homers, 368 RBI, and 383 runs scored.
There is clearly a strong bond between these two, and they only bring the best out of each other. This could be something the Braves consider when it comes to deciding on Albies' option at the end of the year. It is extremely affordable at $7 million for someone with his career stats, and it helps bring out the best in the face of the franchise.