Braves 2B Albies fractures left foot during swing

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies left Monday’s 9-5 victory in opposition to the Washington Nationals within the fifth inning after he fractured his left foot, the staff introduced.

Albies suffered the damage within the batter’s field on a swing, and because the ball left the bat, the veteran hobbled a step down the first-base line earlier than falling to the bottom in ache.

He sat up and instantly seemed down on the injured foot. After he made his approach to the dugout, he hopped on his proper foot down the steps and into the Braves’ clubhouse. He was changed at second base by veteran backup Orlando Arcia.

Albies was 0-for-2 with a run scored and a stroll on the time of the damage. Arcia singled in his first at-bat.

“We hate it for the child. We hate it for us,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned in his postgame media availability. “It is simply a type of issues. He will be superb, he is younger. However we hate it for the child. He is such a giant a part of the ballclub.”

The damage comes because the defending World Sequence champions are rallying from a sluggish begin. With Monday’s win, Atlanta now owns a 12-game successful streak, which has vaulted the Braves into second place within the Nationwide League East, 5 video games behind the New York Mets.

“It is one thing that is exhausting to place into phrases,” shortstop Dansby Swanson mentioned of Albies’ damage in his postgame, on-field interview. “He is like my little brother, we have performed collectively now for six years, we have been by way of quite a bit collectively, plenty of ups and plenty of downs. There’s not a greater human being on the market. Clearly, we’re desirous about him.

“On the finish of the day, this stuff occur in sports activities and we will proceed to develop and get higher.”

Earlier than the sequence opener in opposition to Washington, Albies had 240 at-bats, 8 dwelling runs and 33 RBIs. He, just like the staff, struggled out of the gate after final November’s World Sequence title, however Albies pushed his batting common to .246 and had three stolen bases, hitting largely out of the No. 6 gap.

Albies, 25, is in his fifth major-league season, and gained a Silver Slugger award in each 2019 and 2021. Signed by way of 2025, Albies led the Nationwide League final season in assists, and has made two All-Star Sport appearances.

The primary inning of Monday’s recreation was delayed practically 90 minutes due to rain in Washington. After the delay, the Nationals switched beginning pitchers, giving reliever Erasmo Ramirez a spot begin over Josiah Grey. Within the ninth inning, the Nationals eliminated star outfielder Juan Soto earlier than his flip within the lineup after he gave the impression to be strolling round gingerly within the subject. Ehire Adrianza hit for Soto and grounded out.