Atlanta Braves: Ozzie Albies returns from injury, vows to “do my thing”

The emotions for the Atlanta Braves on this road trip through the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies have, in the span of 48 hours, ranged from fear to relief when it comes to Ozzie Albies.

Not long after being carried off the field on September 1 in Los Angeles after fouling a ball off his knee, X-rays showed that Albies had avoided any serious injury. Two days later, the 24-year-old second baseman was back in the lineup as the Braves prepared for their second game in Denver of a four-game series against the Rockies.

Here’s what Ozzie Albies said about his return to the Atlanta Braves lineup

“It felt really bad when it hit my knee,” Albies told reporters, including Call to the Pen, before Friday’s game as he reflected on the September 1 scare. “I was feeling dizzy as soon as I stood up. It felt like I had been sitting on a boat.

“It felt weak, so I couldn’t say right away what was going on.”

Albies credits “a lot of treatment” for his quick return to the lineup. Atlanta welcomes back Albies as it enters Friday’s play with a two-game lead in the National League East and faces a Rockies team that has been among the best in baseball this season at home.

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Atlanta snapped its three-game losing streak on Thursday night with a 6-5 win at Coors Field.

“I’m going to play with a sleeve to support my knee tonight,” Albies said. “I’m going to out there and do my thing.”

Doing his “thing” includes building upon a .259/.317/.483 slash line with 23 home runs and 86 RBI. Albies ranks first in the National League in extra-base hits with 63 and is on pace for a 105-RBI season. No Atlanta primary middle infielder (minimum 75 percent of games) has driven in 100 runs for the Braves in a single season.

Albies was slotted to hit leadoff on Friday, and Atlanta is 18-8 with him in the leadoff spot.

And it didn’t take long for Albies to make an impact, taking the second pitch of the game over the center field wall to give the Braves a quick 1-0 lead.

“I play the game hard, every day, in and out,” Albies said as he looked ahead to his return on Friday night. “I will make sure nothing holds me down. I will go out there and do my thing. That’s who I am.”