Braves prospect Ozzie Albies oozes confidence, enthusiasm

When the Braves traded Andrelton Simmons to the Angels last month, it looked like the only thing between Ozzie Albies and an inevitable long-term residence as Atlanta’s shortstop was placeholder Erick Aybar.

Aybar, the veteran infielder who came from Anaheim in the trade, would presumably be the shortstop bridge to Albies.

Albies, still only 18 and with no experience above low-Single A, could nonetheless be ready by 2017, given his progress during his first two minor league seasons. And the previously expected shift of Albies from shortstop to second base to accommodate defensive extraordinaire Simmons would no longer be necessary.

But then the Braves acquired shortstop Dansby Swanson – the No. 1 pick in the June draft out of Vanderbilt – as part of the haul from Arizona in the Winter Meetings trade that sent Shelby Miller to the Diamondbacks.

Suddenly it was presumed that Albies would be shifted from shortstop to second base at some point between now and his major league arrival, which figures to be after 21-year-old Swanson’s arrival.

Well, hold on. Two things: It’s not a given that Albies will be the one who shifts to second base, thought it seems more likely (both are strong defenders, but some think 5-foot-7 Albies is better suited for second base.) Secondly, Albies isn’t concerned about competition. He already has silenced those skeptics who initially didn’t rate him an elite prospect.

Baseball America’s revamped Braves top-30 prospects list has Swanson at No. 1 and Albies at No. 6.