Ozuna cites hard work for offensive turnaround
CUMBERLAND — When the Atlanta Braves signed Marcell Ozuna to a $65 million contract after the 2020 season, they were hoping he would provide a potent middle-of-the-order bat for the next four years.
The results have been anything but. After facing issues both on and off the field, Ozuna entered 2023 in what felt like a make-or-break scenario. Either produce the numbers the Braves needed to see, or perhaps search for another team to call home.
Regardless of the outcome, Ozuna had $35 million coming his way over the final two years remaining on his deal.
Fortunately for Atlanta, Ozuna battled his way through a slow start to become a contributor once again.
Ozuna batted just .078 through April, collecting only five hits in his first 18 games of the season, with a pair of solo homers accounted for all of Ozuna’s run production over that stretch. Things changed, however, with a big series against his old Miami
Marlins team to open up May.
Ozuna belted three home runs in three games against the Marlins, setting the tone for the month. He was hitting .328 with six home runs, 16 RBIs and a 1.062 OPS through the first 16 games in May.
Those numbers made Ozuna the most productive Braves hitter this month outside of Ronald Acuña Jr.
“It’s working,” Ozuna said of breaking out of his slump. “I’m working every day in the cage, working on my mechanics and working on my timing. As soon as I walk in the back, I feel like I can have success.”
Ozuna’s 17-game on-base streak was snapped in Tuesday’s loss to the Dodgers, but he has pulled his season average over .200 during and cobbled together an eight-game hitting streak.
The May turnaround has seen Ozuna begin to use the entire field again while also shrinking his strike zone and taking more walks.
“I’m ecstatic with the adjustments he’s made,” Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said. “There isn’t anybody in here that works harder than that dude. He’s a grinder and a worker, and he cares a lot. Now, he’s starting to see some of the fruits of that labor.”
Ozuna batted .338 and led the National League with 18 homers and 56 RBIs during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, falling just short of a Triple Crown when then-teammate Freddie Freeman hit .341 to capture the batting title.
However, the road back to productivity for Ozuna has been long. Beset by struggles at the plate and problems off the field, including a pair of well-documented arrests, he came to camp this spring hoping to prove himself to the club. The Braves stuck with him, perhaps in large part because the contract situation meant they were stuck with him.
Now, the team is finally seeing the production it has been paying for since 2021.
“To his credit, he stayed with it,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I think, if you don’t give up on yourself, you’ll give yourself a chance to come out of things like that. That’s the big key, and it’s easier said than done.”