Ozzie Albies Bio
Ozhaino Jurdy Jiandro “Ozzie” Albies (born January 7, 1997) is a Curaçaoan professional baseball second baseman for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Albies signed with the Braves organization in 2013 as an international free agent and made his MLB debut with the team in 2017. During his first full season in the majors, he was named to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game. He was later selected to the 2021 and 2023 All-Star games, won the National League Silver Slugger Award in 2019 and 2021, and earned the Heart & Hustle Award in 2021. That same year, his Braves won the World Series, the franchise’s first title since 1995.
Known across baseball for his switch-hitting, smooth defense at second base, and energetic style of play, Albies has remained a central part of Atlanta’s young core. His combination of speed, pop, and durability helped shape one of the most exciting infields in the National League.
Early Life and Background
Ozzie Albies was born in Willemstad, Curaçao, on January 7, 1997. He grew up in a baseball-loving family on the Caribbean island, which has produced a long list of MLB players. His parents are Osgarry and Judari Albies. Sadly, his father Osgarry passed away from a heart attack in 2013 at the age of 40, the same year Ozzie signed his first professional contract.
Albies began playing baseball at the age of six and picked up switch-hitting in 2013, just before turning pro. Curaçao-based scout Dargello Lodowica discovered the young infielder, and the Atlanta Braves signed him as an international free agent on July 2, 2013, for $350,000. The Braves’ connection to fellow Curaçao natives Andruw Jones and Andrelton Simmons helped influence his decision to join the organization. He is multilingual and speaks English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento.
Path to Major League Baseball
Albies opened his professional career in 2014 with the Gulf Coast Braves and joined the Danville Braves in July. In 57 games that season, he hit .364/.446/.444 with a home run, a strong debut that placed him among the top prospects in baseball. After the year, he was ranked among the top 100 prospects in the sport by Keith Law and fifth-best in Atlanta’s farm system by Baseball America.
In 2015, Albies began the year with the Rome Braves and was named to the All-Star Futures Game in July, where he was the only Braves prospect and the youngest player on the field. He finished the season with a .310 average, 29 stolen bases, and 17 errors before a fractured right thumb ended his year. He opened 2016 in Double-A Mississippi, was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, and later returned to Mississippi to play second base alongside shortstop Dansby Swanson. A right elbow injury cut short his postseason, but his development convinced the Braves he was close to the majors.
Ozzie Albies Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
The Braves called Albies up on August 1, 2017, and he debuted against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two days later, he hit his first career home run for his first major league hit, also off the Dodgers. In 2018, he cracked Atlanta’s Opening Day starting lineup and quickly made an impact. On June 12, he hit a grand slam against the New York Mets and later became the youngest player ever to have two grand slams. He also notched his first walk-off home run on June 25 against the Cincinnati Reds and his first multi-home run game on July 11 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Albies was elected to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game via the player vote in his first full season, batting .281 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs at the break. He finished the year at .261/.305/.452 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs, establishing himself as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s young core.
Atlanta Braves Breakthrough (2019–2021)
On April 11, 2019, Albies signed a seven-year, $35 million contract extension with Atlanta, a deal that included option years for 2026 and 2027. That season, he batted .295/.352/.500 with 24 home runs, 102 runs scored, and 86 RBIs, and he won his first National League Silver Slugger Award. He also posted the best fielding percentage among major league second basemen at .994.
In the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, he batted .271/.306/.466 with six home runs and 19 RBIs. The 2021 campaign was his best, as he recorded his 500th career hit on June 3, was selected to the All-Star Game, and became the first second baseman in franchise history to hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs in the same season. He also stole a career-high 20 bases. The Braves finished 88–73, won the NL East, and went on to win the 2021 World Series, with Albies playing every inning of the postseason at second base. He earned his second Silver Slugger Award and the Heart & Hustle Award for the year.
Atlanta Braves Era (2022–Present)
Albies hit a grand slam off Chris Stratton of the St. Louis Cardinals on June 11, 2022, but two days later fractured his left foot against the Washington Nationals and underwent surgery. He returned in September, only to fracture his right pinky finger the next day while sliding into second base. He was once again selected as a National League All-Star reserve in 2023 and played nearly every game before a hamstring injury in mid-August sent him to the injured list.
Injuries continued to challenge him in 2024 and 2025. He was hit by a pitch on April 15, 2024, fracturing his toe, and then fractured his left wrist in a collision on July 21 of that year. On September 22, 2025, he fractured his left hamate bone on a foul ball, ending his season. Despite the setbacks, he recorded his 1,000th career MLB hit on June 9, 2025, with a single off Milwaukee’s DL Hall, and on September 22, 2025, he finished the year hitting .240/.306/.365 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.
Driving Style and Strengths
Albies is a switch-hitter with above-average bat speed, excellent contact skills, and patient plate discipline. In 2021, he swung at the highest percentage of strikes in the majors at 83.4 percent. Defensively, he pairs soft hands with strong lateral range, leading all second basemen with 389 assists in 2021 and posting the top fielding percentage at his position in 2019. His baserunning instincts and 20-plus steal speed add another dimension to his game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key career moments include his 2017 debut home run, becoming the youngest player with two grand slams in 2018, signing a long-term extension in 2019, his 500th career hit in 2021, and his 1,000th career hit in 2025. He also hit the first-ever walk-off home run in World Baseball Classic history on March 7, 2026, a three-run shot that lifted the Netherlands past Nicaragua 4–3.
Ozzie Albies Career Wins
Ozzie Albies has built a strong resume of individual and team achievements. He is a three-time All-Star (2018, 2021, 2023), a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2019, 2021), the 2021 Heart & Hustle Award winner, and a 2021 World Series champion with the Atlanta Braves.
MLB Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Albies owns 169 career home runs, 622 RBIs, and 1,168 hits, while consistently ranking among the top defensive second basemen in the league. His signature season came in 2021, when he hit 30 home runs, drove in 106 runs, scored 103 times, stole 20 bases, and helped Atlanta capture its first World Series title in 26 years.
Other Wins & Performances
On the international stage, Albies represents the Netherlands. In the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he delivered the first walk-off home run in tournament history, a three-run blast that gave his country a 4–3 win over Nicaragua.
Ozzie Albies Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Albies was raised in Willemstad, Curaçao, by his parents Osgarry and Judari Albies. His father passed away in 2013 at the age of 40, the same year Ozzie signed with the Braves. He grew up alongside a younger brother and sister, and Curaçao’s strong baseball culture, including legends like Andruw Jones and Andrelton Simmons, helped shape his path to the majors.
Personal Life
Albies is married and lives in Marietta, Georgia. Off the field, he is a passionate fish hobbyist who keeps several large aquariums at home, housing turtles, tropical fish, and a freshwater shark. Inspired by his grandfather’s koi pond in Curaçao, he watches his tanks remotely through an internet camera and shares fish videos on a dedicated YouTube channel and Instagram account.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was another injury-marred but milestone-filled year for Ozzie Albies. He was hit by a pitch on April 15, fracturing his toe, and later fractured his left wrist in an outfield collision on July 21 against the Cardinals, an injury that was expected to sideline him for about eight weeks. He returned to the active roster in mid-September but went 1-for-8 in Atlanta’s Wild Card Series loss to the San Diego Padres.
On June 9, Albies recorded his 1,000th career MLB hit, a single off Milwaukee’s DL Hall, a major personal milestone. Unfortunately, on September 22, he fractured his left hamate bone fouling off a pitch, ending his year. He finished 2025 with a .240/.306/.365 slash line, 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases, and had played in 157 of Atlanta’s games before the injury.
Looking ahead, Albies remains under contract with the Braves through at least 2026, with team options for 2026 and 2027. If he can stay healthy, he is expected to return to the middle of Atlanta’s lineup, continue to provide Gold Glove-caliber defense, and serve as a veteran leader alongside stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. as the Braves chase another deep postseason run.
