Nacho Alvarez doing everything possible to earn promotion

Nacho Alvarez is doing just about everything possible to earn another crack in Atlanta after a disappointing eight-game stint with the Braves last year. That caused many to cool on his potential, but a week-long sample size shouldn’t negate just how dominant he’s been in AAA at just 22 years old. Since last year, Alvarez is hitting .310 with 11 home runs in 71 games for the Stripers.

That’s the kind of bat the Braves could desperately use in Atlanta. The only question is: where would he play?

A lot like Vaughn Grissom before him, it’s probably not realistic for Alvarez to play shortstop at the major-league level. He projects better as either a third baseman or second baseman. Austin Riley isn’t going anywhere, but how much longer before the Braves consider him an option to replace Ozzie Albies?

Albies has been dismal this season with the stick, hitting just .224 with a .625 OPS. His power has become completely obsolete, and he’s never been a guy that gets on base a ton due to the fact that he doesn’t typically take many walks. The eye test is just as bad as the numbers — perhaps even worse– and while nobody wants to see Albies replaced, given all he’s done for the organization, the Braves can’t just sit there and accept that level of performance with the offense struggling the way that it is right now.

It may not happen soon, but if Ozzie Albies doesn’t start showing signs of life and Nacho Alvarez keeps raking in Gwinnett, it’s probably not out of the realm of possibility.