Feature on Ozzie Albies
The small island nation of Curacao in the southern Caribbean has produced more than its share of professional baseball players over the past two decades, with one major pipeline leading directly to Atlanta.
Andruw Jones, Jair Jurrjens, Randall Simon and Andrelton Simmons - all have worn a Braves uniform with success.
Not surprisingly, the team has found yet another gem who may join his countrymen's ranks and at the young age of 18, Rome Braves shortstop Ozhaino "Ozzie" Albies is putting himself in a position to follow in their footsteps.
"My whole life is about baseball and family," Albies, who was signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent in 2013 at the age of 16, said about his love for the game and those around him. "When I was six, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to play.
"The next day," he continued, "I was on the field and I've never stopped playing."
An expression of sheer joy spreads across the teen's face when he talks about the game and it's one that can be seen when he swings a bat and becomes a speedy threat on the bases or using his glove to steal singles away from opposing hitters and gun them down at first with throw that looks like it was fired from a cannon.
"He makes plays look easy that aren't easy. He does things you can't touch," Rome manager Randy Ingle, who was in Danville, Va., last summer when Albies played for the Braves' rookie-level ballclub in the Appalachian League. "Talk about someone who plays beyond his age - he plays like he's a lot older than he is."
Ranked as the Braves' No. 7 prospect, Albies proved he had the skills - and the hard-work ethic - right off the proverbial bat.
Last year, his first-ever as a professional ballplayer, the 5-foot-9 switch-hitting infielder - he learned how to hit from both sides of the plate in 2013 - opened the season playing with the Braves' Gulf Coast League team that is the first step for those seeking to climb Atlanta's farm system ladder.
After just 19 games, in which he batted .381, Albies was called up to Danville where he continued making an immediate statement, playing in 38 games, hitting .356, scoring 25 runs and driving in 19 more of them and stealing 15 bases.
Not surprisingly, he was named an Organization All-Star by Milb.com.
"He had such a good start in the Gulf Coast League they had to send him to Danville," said Ingle.
Still, Albies was determined to get even better as he prepared for the 2015 season, fine-tuning his form at the plate and in the field and when the Braves began spring training, he got a taste of the big leagues by being called on to play in five exhibition games with the major league club.
The experience also allowed Albies to spend time with Simmons, Atlanta's first-ever Gold Glove shortstop.
Jose Reyes now with Toronto, four-time All-Star from Dominican Republic
"Jose Reyes was my hero growing up," said Albies, who grew up watching the four-time All-Star from the Dominican Republic on TV as much as he could. "But now it's Andrelton and what's good is that I practice with him back home during the off-season."
When the Braves broke spring camp, Albies made his way with the Braves' low-Class A team to Rome and since the season started in April he has emerged as one of the South Atlantic League's top infielders.
Heading into the final three games of Rome's road trip to Asheville this weekend, Albies has put up impressive numbers that gives him a chance at being selected for the SAL All-Star Game next month, with a .310 batting average, 25 runs scored, 14 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a .941 fielding average.
Earlier this month, Albies put together his most impressive week-long run, hitting .429 in six games, with two doubles and two triples, had seven RBI and scored seven runs, and stole four bases, resulting in his selection as the SAL Offensive Player of the Week ending May 10.
But Albies understands that there's still more to learn.
"The pitchers (in the SAL) are much better," he said. "They're more consistent and have more pitches. But I can handle it. I try to swing short and quick every time I hit the ball.
"This is a good team. I feel like I'm home," Albies said about being a Brave in Rome. "I was so excited to be here when the season opened playing in a beautiful stadium in front of a lot of fans.
"I just want to play ball, make my family proud and keep moving up."
Hernandez Punches Out 10 but Emperors’ Luck Runs Out in Extras
SPARTANBURG, SC – After failing to capitalize on the extra-innings automatic runner in the eleventh and twelfth last night, Dylan Dreiling’s single to left field walked off the Emperors in game two. Hub City hurler Aidan Curry issued three free passes and gave up a pair of hits across his
Emperors Sear ‘Burgers on Two Long Balls in Series Opener
SPARTANBURG, SC – Ahead 2-1 for the majority of the game one, Rome’s four-run top of the eighth inning, fueled by Ambioris Tavarez’s three-run home run, overcooked the Spartanburgers in the 6-3 victory. After Adam Maier worked through back-to-back walks and let up a run at the onset of his
The Longball the Difference Again in Game Four Loss to Greensboro
GREENSBORO, NC – Counting the Grasshoppers’ two home runs on Friday night, the Pirates’ High-A affiliate has now launched 11 round trippers since Tuesday which is tied for the second-most in all of professional baseball. Lonnie White Jr.’s first-inning solo shot to center field came off Riley Frey’s 3-1 fastball
Espinoza Homers in Third-Straight Game, Emps’ Unable to Squash ‘Hoppers
GREENSBORO, NC – Rome’s leadoff batter, Lizandro Espinoza became just the twelfth Emperor in the last decade to homer in three-straight games, but the Emperors were once again unable to put away the Grasshoppers Thursday, losing 5-4. Titus Dumitru’s second homer of the series jumpstarted the Emperors offense in the
Emperors Deprived of Four-Run Lead in Weather-Afflicted Game
GREENSBORO, NC – Once ahead 7-3 as early as the third inning, Rome watched its lead disappear over the remainder of Wednesday's game, dropping game two to the Grasshoppers by a final of 10-9. A run in the first, courtesy of consecutive singles from Rome’s 1-2 punch of Espinoza and
Dumitru, Espinoza Put on Power Showcase in Win Over Greensboro
GREENSBORO, NC – Rome’s leadoff and three-hole hitter racked up 13 total bases in Tuesday’s series opening 7-5 win over the Greensboro Grasshoppers. After 118 at-bats without a homer to start the season, Titus Dumitru finally ran into a full count fastball at the top of the zone and sent
Ritchie Reaps SAL Pitcher of the Week Honors
ROME, Ga – The South Atlantic League, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, today announced their weekly award winners which included Rome’s staff ace, JR Ritchie. J.R.’s complete game shutout of the Greenville Drive Saturday night drew national attention, as the Braves’ no.7 prospect became just the second pitcher in
Ritchie Throws a Maddux, Los Pingüinos Ganan
ROME, Ga – J.R. put the finishing touches on his nine-inning, 95-pitch, shutout masterpiece Saturday night, complete with nine strikeouts. Ritchie, the Braves’ 35th overall pick in the 2022 draft and no.7 prospect, gave up just one hit to Franklin Arias on the second pitch of the game. From that
Pitching Stumbles in Copa Weekend Opener
ROME, Ga – Friday marked the second game this series in which Greenville recorded double-digit hits (11) as the Drive slugged their way past the Emperors, 9-5. After Rome’s starter, Herick Hernandez dodged a two-out walk in the first, back-to-back-to-back doubles from Zach Ehrhard, Brooks Brannon, and Marvin Alcantara greeted
Maier’s Seven Strong Innings Buoy Emperors in Game Three
ROME, Ga – For the second time in his last three starts, Adam Maier recorded 21 outs while allowing two or fewer runs in Rome’s 7-2 win over the Greenville Drive. It was a turbulent takeoff for Maier who saw the leadoff batter reach base in each of the first
Emperors Shutout for League-High Sixth Time Wednesday
ROME, Ga – With over 3,400 in attendance Wednesday, the now-second-place Emperors failed to produce a run against a trio of Greenville arms in 6-0 loss. Pitchers Juan Valera, Zach Fogell, and Issac Stebens scattered six hits total and struck out a dozen Emperors. Valera’s 5.2 scoreless innings marked a
Bullpen Backs Sears in Debut, Emps’ Win Third-Straight
ROME, Ga – Six hits and four runs were enough for the Emperors Tuesday night, as Brett Sears spun 5.1 innings of one-run baseball in his High-A debut before turning things over to Tyler LaPorte, Rob Griswold, and Ryan Bourassa in the bullpen. After two innings of spotless baseball from
Emperors Sweep Sunday’s DH, Enter Three-Way Tie For First Place
ROME, Ga – Outscored 7-1 since Tuesday night’s win, Rome’s offense finally came to life Sunday, winning game one, 8-1, behind twelve hits and game two in shutout fashion, 2-0, to earned a series split with Hub City. Game One: Emperors 8, Spartanburgers 1 Each of the first four batters
Rome’s Offensive Struggles Transcend the Delay, Accompany a Third-Straight Loss
ROME, Ga – The Emperors’ 20-plus-inning scoring drought, leftover from Wednesday and Thursday, came to an end early in game four, but Friday night’s rain played a big part in Hub City’s 5-1 victory. A Patrick Clohisy single to centerfield accompanied by an EJ Exposito double down the left field
Spartanburgers Return the Favor, Blank Rome to Close Out April
ROME, Ga – One run sufficed for Hub City Wednesday afternoon, as five Spartanburger arms surrendered a combined two hits in the shutout effort. Starter Aidan Curry and relievers Joey Danielson, Dylan MacLean, Larson Kindreich, and Wilian Bormie struck out a total of twelve Emperors and walked four over their
Ritchie Shines, Grady Homers in Shutout of Hub City
ROME, Ga – With sole possession of first place on the line Tuesday night, the Emperors, behind a career-high 7.0 innings from JR Ritchie, shut out the Spartanburgers, 5-0. Oddly enough, Rome’s first two runs of the series crossed the plate thanks to a pair of double plays, one off
Emperors Drop Game Six in Winston-Salem, Await Pivotal Series with Hub City
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Dash’s three-run bottom of the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie and propelled the White Sox affiliate to a game six win at home. Rome, now 12-9, will host Hub City, also 12-9, next week in a series that will determine the division’s front runner heading
Exposito’s Cycle Headlines Rome’s Series-Clinching Win over Winston-Salem
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – 1,323 games had passed since Joey Meneses’ cycle for the Rome Braves in 2014, and E.J. Exposito’s triple in the top of the ninth inning Saturday put him in the elite company of Meneses and just one other Rome Brave who have hit for the cycle in
Emperors Survive Extras, Capture Fifth Straight Win
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – It took eight scoreless innings for the first run to cross the plate Wednesday night and both clubs resisted a shutout in the ninth, forcing extras where the Emperors prevailed to win their fifth straight ball game, 2-1. It was a dominant effort for Rome’s game two
Dumitru's big night lifts Emperors over Tourists
ROME, Ga. - The Rome Emperors headed into Saturday night’s matchup against the Asheville Tourists needing a win to get the series advantage heading into Sunday. Scoring started early for Rome, with Will Verdung hitting a one-out single in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Patrick Clohisy. Asheville stunned
Nine More Innings of Shutout Baseball for Asheville Pitching
ROME, Ga – For just the seventh time in Asheville’s 100+ year history, the Tourists’ have strung together 18.0 consecutive innings of scoreless baseball, shutting out the Emperors Thursday night, 5-0. Over those 18.0 innings, Rome is a combined 4-for-56 (.071) at the plate with zero extra-base hits and two
Tourists Pitching Does a 180, One-hits the Emperors on Education Day
ROME, Ga – Titus Dumitru’s leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth accounted for Rome’s only hit Wednesday in Asheville’s 2-0 shutout of the Emperors. Solo homers from Alejandro Nunez and Joseph Sullivan, both off JR Ritchie, supplied the offense for the Tourists who were only able to muster
Espinoza and Co. Pour on the Runs in 15-Run Route of Asheville
ROME, Ga – Herick Hernandez’s nine strikeouts over 4.1 innings paved the way for a shutout in Tuesday’s home opener for the Emperors and run support was not an issue as Lizandro Espinoza accounted for 10 runs all by himself. Rome’s starter Herick Hernandez picked up a pair of strikeouts
Emperors Waltz Their Way to Saturday Win
BOWLING GREEN, KY – Lizandro Espinoza’s eighth inning homerun to left field brought the Emperors back even with the HotRods, and four walks issued by Bowling Green’s Jack Snyder in the ninth inning gifted the Rome its fourth win of the season Saturday, 4-3. After shutting out the Emperors Friday
Tavarez, Verdung Shine in 15-Hit Thumping of Bowling Green
BOWLING GREEN, KY – The five through nine batters in the Emperors lineup Thursday night went a combined 13-for-22 (.590) with four extra-base hits, including two homeruns, and owned every one of Rome’s nine runs driven in. Angel Flores’ group is now back to .500 after back-to-back wins against the