Second baseman Ozzie Albies was hitting second in the Braves’ lineup Thursday despite being hit in the left shin by a pitch and exiting in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s loss to the Nationals.
Albies had been hit in the same spot recently, but said he felt fine and it was just a “big bruise.” His shin was wrapped before the game.
“He is a tough kid, very tough kid,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “There’s a lot to like with that young man. He’s got no fear. Plays with a lot of confidence. Like I say, he’s tough as nails.”
Snitker considered giving Albies a day off, but when they arrived at SunTrust Park, Albies was ready to go.
“I thought about it for a minute,” Snitker said. “He’s 20-years-old, he can play (laughs). He doesn’t get tired, he gets sleepy. But yeah, I said I’d check with him (Thursday). … He wanted to go, so shoot, let him play. He hit a homer off (Nationals starter Tanner Roark) last time.”
Albies is hitting .311 over the last 32 games, but he’s hitless in his last 14 at-bats.
