The Atlanta Braves were given some rare, good news to start the week, with Nacho Alvarez completing his rehab and starting his season with the Gwinnett Stripers. This is already where the infielder was working his way back after suffering a wrist injury before the season.
Now, the Braves have an interesting option at shortstop to consider if Alvarez is able to make an impression in the next weeks of the season. Current starter Nick Allen is hitting .227 and failed to take advantage of having a chance to push his name into consideration as a long-term option.
Allen's lack of offensive prowess is more glaring with the team's current struggles. If this were two seasons ago, when the Braves were an elite offensive force, having Allen at the bottom of the lineup wouldn't be an issue. However, this changes when Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris, and Sean Murphy have all been wildly inconsistent. A team desperate for offensive stability has more reason to consider taking advantage of the return of Alvarez.
Nacho Alvarez Could Quickly Find His Way Into the Braves Lineup
Aside from the offensive struggles, you have the consideration of Atlanta's current positioning. The team is far below .500 and nowhere near division or wildcard contention. If the team still has any interest in attempting to contend, now is the time to throw every option at the wall. This means both looking at outside trades and in-house improvements.
Alavarez was given a shot in the 2024 season and clearly wasn't ready to take the leap. If any progress is shown at Gwinnett in the next weeks, a move should be made. Allen can stay on the active roster, replacing Luke Williams with the Braves, giving Alvarez a chance to provide an offensive spark.
Whether or not it works, it is a move Atlanta must at least consider with Allen's recent offensive slide. This roster is simply too talented not to try every possible avenue to improve its depth and attempt to turn the 2025 season in the right direction. No matter how they choose to handle the position, Alvarez's return is good news for Atlanta.