ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies hit the team’s first home run in 2025 and he repeated the feat in 2026.
The switch-hitter took Kansas City Royals starter Cole Ragans deep in the first inning during the team’s third at-bat of the season. New Braves manager Walt Weiss stated that he wanted Albies batting third because of how well he hits against right-handed pitching. Albies wasted no time proving Weiss right.
The Braves lost that game against the Padres 7-4, so they are hoping for a different outcome in the 2026 opener.
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Albies was not the only Brave to homer on Opening Day in 2026. Designated hitter Drake Baldwin started his sophomore campaign off on the right in the third, taking Ragans 370 feet deep to right field. Outfielder Michael Harris II later smacked a two-run homer off Ragans, giving the Braves a 4-0 lead.
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Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) makes the catch against Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez during the sixth inning of an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) makes the catch against Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez during the sixth inning of an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley (27) hits a single in the fifth inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves second baseman Mauricio Dubón (14) throws the ball against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning of an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) deliveres in the first inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves' Drake Baldwin (30) celebrates his solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II is introduced before an opening-day baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre is introduced before an opening-day baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is introduced before an opening-day baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball F-35 Lightning aircraft fly over Truist Park before an opening-day baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies (1) celebrates his solo homer against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Oliver Quezada, 9, watches teams at batting practice before an opening day baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Mason Macdougall, left, watches batting practice before an opening day baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Kinley (45) celebrates victory 0ver the Kansas City Royals after an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Kinley (45) celebrates victory with Atlanta Braves' Jonah Heim over the Kansas City Royals after an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves pitcher Robert Suarez (75) works against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves' Mauricio Dubón (14) hits a two-RBI triple against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of an opening-day baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves pitcher Robert Suarez (75) works in the eighth inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Royals Braves Baseball Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) is safe on a two-RBI triple hit by Atlanta Braves' Mauricio Dubón in the seventh inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Albies is the seventh player in franchise history to hit home runs on back-to-back opening days. He joins Eddie Mathews (1958-59), Joe Torre (1965-66), Fred McGriff (1995-96), Andruw Jones (2000-01), Brian McCann (2009-10) and Jason Heyward (2010-11).
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