This week’s award is split between two of the Braves’ longest tenured players.
Call it a cop-out.
With this week’s regular season schedule for the Atlanta Braves condensed to three games because of the All-Star break, there was a chance that two or more players would have enough impact over the three game series with the New York Yankees to end up with a tie for this week’s Battery Power Braves Player of the Week award. And that is exactly what happened.
A few comments about players who had a notable performances against the Yanks. Michael Harris II drew his first walk since the Clinton administration – well, since May 18 – and also had three hits including a home run.
Pitcher Joey Wentz made his second appearance for Atlanta, starting on Saturday night, and pitching four scoreless innings before the Braves bullpen imploded. He’s tossed seven scoreless innings with eight strikeout while allowing only two hits and two walks since the former top prospect returned to the team that drafted him in 2016 on July 11.
Catcher/designated hitter Drake Baldwin had four hits and a walk while suiting up for all three games. Fellow backstop/DH Sean Murphy replicated Baldwin with four hits but also picked-up three walks. Those two may have put the writing on the wall of the end of designated hitter Marcell Ozuna’s time with Atlanta.
Ultimately, the offensive performance from struggling second baseman Ozzie Albies and superstar right fielder Ronald Acuña, Jr.’s offensive performance combined with one of the greatest outfield assists of this millennium were both worthy of this week’s award.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Battery Power Braves Players of the Week: Ronald Acuña, Jr. and Ozzie Albies
In a forgettable season for the Atlanta Braves, Ozzie Albies has been one of the players whose individual performance has mirrored the team’s struggles for the entirety of 2025. Although Albies had an 0-fer on Sunday, between Friday and Saturday’s games he collected a walk and three hits – including two home runs and a whopping nine RBI.
His home run on Saturday was the 150th in his career. He’s 16th all-time in Braves franchise history for home runs and if he can manage 13 more RBI, he’d move into the 20th spot in career RBI.
Ronald Acuña, Jr.’s week began by getting a hit and scoring a run for the National League at Truist Park during Tuesday’s All-Star Game. When the regular season’s games began again on Friday, Acuña, Jr. created a moment with his defense which will be long-remembered as he unleashed an unbelievable 301-foot laser to throw out a runner at third base.
At the plate on Friday night, he collected a double and a triple and on Sunday he blasted a 456-foot home run while also picking up a single to complete the weekend cycle.
Acuña, Jr. and Albies have been teammates since Acuña, Jr. debuted with Atlanta in the spring of 2018. With rumors swirling that the Braves could look to move Albies this off-season, we may have only a few more months to enjoy their time together.