RADIO
Ozzie Albies 2020 Outlook: Untapped Stolen Base Potential
5 years agoAtlanta Braves' second baseman Ozzie Albies is coming off a strong sophomore season, slashing .295/.352/.500 with 102 R, 24 HR, 86 RBI, and 15 SB. He improved his plate discipline by boosting his walk rate from 5.3 BB% to 7.7 BB% and trimming his strikeout rate to 16%. Albies also hit the ball harder, raising his Barrel% from 4.7% to 6.6%. Albies possesses untapped stolen base potential, as he had 80 total stolen bases in 333 games at the minor-league level, which is approximately a 40 SB pace over a 162 game season. Despite only stealing 29 bases in 36 attempts in the big leagues, his minor-league track record and 86th-percentile Sprint Speed indicates that Albies has the potential to set a career-high in stolen bases in 2020. The Braves' lineup will also remain strong in 2020, led by stars Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman as well as recent addition Marcell Ozuna. Albies finished the season hitting in the two-hole, sandwiched between Acuña and Freeman. This bodes well for his 2020 outlook as being able to hit between two of the best hitters in baseball will do wonders for his counting stats. Entering his age-23 season, Albies combines a strong floor with a high upside, making him worth the investment at his current ADP of 41.
