Ozzie Albies expects to return in 2024 as right-handed hitter

ATLANTA — Ozzie Albies gave Braves fans the message they have been waiting to hear on Friday, when he said he will bat exclusively right-handed when he returns to Atlanta’s lineup, possibly within the next week.

“I don’t know the date, but I will play,” Albies said.

Albies has been sidelined since July 21 with a fractured left wrist. The switch-hitter still feels discomfort while swinging from the left side of the plate. But his right-handed swing feels fine, and he is willing to try to get used to facing right-handed pitchers from the right side.

This will be an oddity for Albies, who has spent more than a decade as a switch-hitter. But with just two weeks left in the regular season and the Braves fighting for a postseason spot, he is willing to go this route.

“Everybody on the team is asking me when I’m going to be back,” Albies said. “I want to make sure I can just check the boxes that need to be checked to be one hundred percent ready to play, and that’s it.”

Albies says he might need to play just one rehab game before being activated. But a specific timetable hasn’t been provided. The Minor League affiliates are entering their final week of the regular season.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said he hadn’t even talked to Albies about the possibility of exclusively batting right-handed. This seemed hard to believe, but the second baseman claimed the same as he spoke to reporters less than an hour after his manager had.

Albies has hit .338 with 45 homers (20.1 at-bats per home run) and a .939 OPS in 905 plate appearances as a right-handed hitter. He has hit .247 with 94 homers and a .743 OPS in 2,542 plate appearances as a left-handed hitter.

“Lay off bad pitches and swing at good pitches, that’s all I can do,” Albies said.

Whit Merrifield resumed his duties as the Braves’ primary second baseman on Friday night, exactly one week after a foul ball fractured a bone in his left foot. Once Albies returns, the Braves would have the option to move Merrifield to third base.