Ozzie Albies carrying the mantle for Curaçao in Atlanta
By Tab Bamford
The Braves’ Ozzie Albies is now known throughout baseball for his brilliant smile, a signature gold chain, and a fun-loving relationship with reigning National League Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Curaçao native is also renowned for exciting play on the field, which has helped him emerged as one of the best second basemen in the game today. The destination might have been a logical one, but the path was far from easy for Albies to become an All-Star for the Atlanta Braves.
Albies was born less than three months after Braves great Andruw Jones announced his presence with authority in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series. Jones was the first player from Curaçao to reach superstar status in the major leagues.
Over the dozen years that followed, Albies watched as Jones appeared in five All-Star Games and won 10 Gold Glove Awards while Atlanta appeared in the postseason every October. Young players on the island grew up idolizing Jones and, thus, becoming fans of the Braves.
From the first time he picked up a baseball, Albies knew he wanted to play professionally in the United States. Watching Jones play in Atlanta showed him that it was possible.
Albies was an undersized shortstop growing up playing on the same fields as fellow future major leaguers Andrelton Simmons and Jurickson Profar. Simmons and Profar were also shortstops, and they both signed with major league organizations. Seeing other players get the opportunity to play professionally reinforced that there was a path to the big leagues for a kid in Curaçao.
Simmons followed Jones to Atlanta. When Albies started to hear from big league teams, he knew where he wanted to go. Because he stood only 5-foot-6, it wasn’t easy for scouts to sell their organizations to take a chance on him.
Dargello Lodowica scouted Albies for the Braves and convinced Atlanta to sign him as a shortstop. Albies received a $350,000 signing bonus at 16. He followed Simmons to Atlanta and, more importantly, to play for the same team that made Jones a national hero back home.
“For me to play [for the Braves] is special because a lot of people in Curaçao love the Braves because of Andruw Jones,” Albies said.
The excitement of his first professional contract didn’t last long, unfortunately. Albies’ father died soon after he signed with the Braves, leaving him with a hole in his life as a teenager about to embark on a new career journey.
Thankfully for Albies, there were mentors along the way to help him grow into his job and new life. One of those mentors happened to be the player Albies grew up idolizing.
“[My relationship with Andruw] means so much,” Albies said. “He’s helped me feel confident. When you have a good relationship with someone like Andruw it helps you figure things out.”
Jones has been close with Albies and other players from Curaçao for years. He has also remained close to the Braves organization. He spends time with the younger players, including Albies.
“We talk about fielding and hitting and how to grow up in the minor leagues,” Jones said. “I tell the guys to keep smiling and make sure they’re doing the right thing. Now everybody can see why [Albies] is succeeding in the major leagues.”
Albies’ career is off to a strong start, but it didn’t come without change. When the Braves acquired Dansby Swanson, the organization suddenly had two highly regarded prospects playing shortstop. Something had to give. Albies made the move to second base to begin the 2016 season, reaching the majors on Aug. 1 of that year.
His first hit was a home run against the Dodgers a couple days after his big league debut. He hasn’t slowed down since. At 21, Albies became the youngest player ever from Curaçao to appear in the All-Star Game last year, beating his mentor’s previous mark. Jones appeared in his first Midsummer Classic as a 23-year-old.
As Albies looks ahead to representing the Braves in another All-Star Game this year, he’s mindful of what he now represents back home. He realizes that kids in Curaçao will view him now in the same way he once viewed Jones as a child.
He’s one of the players who have made it to the big leagues.
“It means a lot to me coming from such a small island,” he said. “You don’t see a lot of players representing Curaçao in the United States. I’m always appreciative of this opportunity, and whenever I go back I feel happy to show my country – my island – what we’re doing for them.”
Featured Image: Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport
Inset Images: La Vida Baseball