Ozuna heads to Taiwan as an MLB ambassador
Marcell Ozuna’s offseason is not off to a restful start.
The Miami Marlins’ All-Star left fielder headed to Taiwan early this week as part of MLB’s ongoing effort to grow the game internationally. This weekend in Taipei City, Ozuna will host youth baseball clinics among other activities at MLB Baseball Park in Taiwan, the interactive space encouraging Taiwanese kids to play baseball.
“It’s an honor to represent Major League Baseball and help spread this great game around the world. Having the opportunity to visit Taiwan and influence thousands of kids is beyond anything I could have imagined,” Ozuna said in a statement released by MLB. “I’m looking forward to sharing some of the knowledge that I’ve collected over the years, but I’m sure I’ll also learn from them.”
Ozuna will also be making charitable and media appearances.
Ozuna, who is from the Dominican Republic, is the fourth “MLB International Ambassador” after Rays pitcher Chris Archer (2015), former major league outfielder Steve Finley (2015) and Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2016).
Rest assured, it’s not all work and no play for Ozuna. He’s been in Taiwan all week and has spent time seeing the sights with his wife, Genesis. He has chronicled their endeavors on his Instagram account, @thebigbear13ozuna.
Ozuna, who turns 27 next month and has two years of team control remaining, is fresh off the best season of his career. He batted .312 with a .376 OBP and .548 slugging percentage, plus 37 homers and 124 RBI (thirdhighest total in the majors). That was enough for manager Don Mattingly to call Ozuna the team MVP over even Giancarlo Stanton, considered a leading candidate for the NL MVP Award.
Stanton up for PCAs
What should be an eventful award season for Giancarlo Stanton is officially underway.
Stanton was named a finalist Thursday for two Players Choice Awards: MLB Player of the Year and NL Outstanding Player.
In the former category, the Miami Marlins’ right fielder is up against the Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve and the Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado. In the latter, Stanton’s competition is Arenado and Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon.
Stanton is fresh off the best year of his career and arguably the best year by any Marlins hitter in their quarter-century history. He finished with 59 homers, tied 1921 Babe Ruth for the ninth-highest total in a season ever, and a Marlins-record and MLBbest 132 RBI. He also led the NL in slugging (.631) while hitting .281 with a .376 OBP.
Stanton, Arenado and Blackmon (and Altuve on the AL side) are also candidates for the more prestigious NL MVP award, which will be announced in mid-November.