During the MLB offseason, every hitter around baseball had their height remeasured in order to coincide with the league’s new automated ball-strike system, and the Atlanta Braves are no exception.
You would think this really wouldn’t be a big deal, as a human being’s height typically doesn’t change all that much after their teenage years. Yes, they shrink as they get older, but for professional baseball players who usually don’t even play into their 40s (shout out to ageless wonder Julio Franco), that’s very far down the line.
But not for Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, apparently.
Albies had previously been listed at 5-foot-8, but following the remeasurements, he now comes in at 5-foot-7, meaning he dropped a whole inch over the last several months.
Okay; not really. The more likely scenario is that Albies’ previous height was inaccurate, and now, we have a more precise reading. But it’s still an interesting tidbit, nonetheless.
Albies missed extensive time due to a fractured wrist last season, playing in 99 games. During his time on the field, he slashed .251/.303/.404 with 10 home runs and 53 RBI over 435 plate appearances. Throw in the fact that he is now evidently shorter, and it hasn’t exactly been a banner year for the 28-year-old.
However, Albies is two seasons removed from slashing .280/.336/.513 with 33 homers and 109 RBI, and based on the fact that he has largely been an every-other-year player throughout his career (just check his numbers), the Braves may be able to count on a much better campaign from Albies in 2025.
The Curacao native initially signed with Atlanta as an international free agent back in 2013. He made his big-league debut in 2017 and earned an All-Star selection as soon as his second season when he registered a .757 OPS to go along with 24 long balls and 72 RBI.
Overall, Albies has made three trips to the midsummer classic and owns a lifetime .270/.322/.470 slash line. He also played a pivotal role in helping lead the Braves to a World Series title in 2021, although his career playoff numbers (.638 OPS) do leave a whole lot to be desired.
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