Braves call up top infield prospect Nacho Alvarez

Braves call up top infield prospect Nacho Alvarez

The Atlanta Braves’ top players have been dropping like flies this season. Ronald Acuna Jr., one of the best players in baseball, tore his ACL in late May and ace Spencer Strider underwent season-ending elbow surgery in mid-April after just two starts.

Most recently, on Sunday, the team announced second baseman Ozzie Albies fractured his left wrist after attempting a tag on a stolen base attempt, expecting to sideline him for the next eight weeks.

Ozzie Albies today underwent X-rays that revealed a left wrist fracture. He is expected to miss approximately eight weeks.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 21, 2024

Ozzie Albies exits today's game against the Cardinals in the ninth inning following this play at second base ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/kANpteaAlz

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) July 21, 2024

As a result, the Braves are calling up their top position player prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr., the No. 5 prospect in their system, according to MLB Pipeline. It was first reported by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman on Sunday evening that the organization was “expecting” to call up Alvarez from Triple-A Gwinnett, though the move wasn’t made official until Monday.

The #Braves today selected INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. to the major league roster and placed INF Ozzie Albies on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left wrist. Additionally, the club today signed INF Whit Merrifield to a major league contract after optioning OF Eli White to…

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 22, 2024

NACHO TIME.

Atlanta's top-ranked position player Nacho Alvarez gets his call to the majors 🙌 pic.twitter.com/SEKsvdi1Ty

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) July 22, 2024

The Braves are expected to bring Nacho Alvarez up to replace Ozzie Albies (left wrist) tomorrow. Alvarez has primarily played short, but his athleticism and instincts should allow him to make a quick transition to the second base position

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 21, 2024

In 28 games in Triple-A, Alvarez, 21, was tearing the cover off the baseball. He was slashing .336/.432/.575–a 1.007 OPS (160 wRC+)–with six doubles, seven home runs, 24 RBIs and five stolen bases. He’s got a very good eye–a 14.4 career walk rate (16.7 K%), including a 12.9 percent walk rate this season–with decent raw power.

Alvarez was the team’s fifth-round selection in 2022 after one season at Riverside City College who was touted for his defense at third base when he was in school. He’s expected to get most of his reps at second with the big-league team, however.

Mariners place Ty France on outright waivers

Despite the injuries, Atlanta’s clinging on to a four-game lead in the NL Wild Card race at 54-44. It begins a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday before hitting the road for seven straight against the Mets and Brewers.

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