MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players under 25

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 17: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a fly ball to left field for an out in the fourth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays played on May 17, 2018 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 1, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Atlanta Braves defeated the New York Mets 3-2. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

7. Ozzie Albies

With three players on this list, the Braves are in a position to win for years to come. Second baseman Ozzie Albies takes the top spot for the Atlanta contingent, which is surprising, considering he received considerably less hype coming up through the minor leagues than shortstop Dansby Swanson and outfielder Ronald Acuna. It’s still very early in Acuna’s career, and he does still have a higher upside than Albies. Between Swanson and Albies, however, the nod goes to the second baseman.

Albies made his MLB debut last summer at the age of 20 and turned in an impressive .286/.354/.456 line with nine doubles, five triples, six home runs, 28 RBI and eight stolen bases in 57 games. He also walked 21 times versus 36 strikeouts, showing an advanced feel for hitting at a very young age. As a rookie, Albies made much more contact than Acuna has since his call-up.

The 21-year-old has taken things to another level in 2018, a level that may not have even been in the wildest dreams of the scouts who plucked him from Curacao at the age of 17. Through 46 games, Albies has hit .281/.322/.573 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 33 RBI. He has also stolen six bases to make himself a legitimate 30-30 candidate. The walks are down slightly while the strikeouts are up, but the Braves will take that if Albies is clubbing 40 doubles and 30 home runs as a 21-year-old.

The future for the Braves is impossibly bright with the trio of Albies, Acuna and Swanson, along with a whole host of elite pitching prospects breaking out this year. It’s just another solid reminder that rebuilds work, no matter how painful it is to watch a team lose 100 games. It’s always worth it in the end when the payoff is this good.

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