The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ozuna’s leave extended to Friday,
SAN FRANCISCO — MLB and the players union have agreed to extend Marcell Ozuna’s administrative leave through Friday, an MLB official told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.
Ozuna was placed on administrative leave Sept. 10 under the joint MLB-MLBPA domestic-violence, sexual-assault and child-abuse policy. It’s not considered a disciplinary action, and Ozuna is paid during his leave.
Ozuna was arrested on domestic-violence charges against his wife, Genesis, in May. Felony charges were later dropped to two misdemeanors of family-violence battery and assault. Ozuna agreed to enter a pretrial diversion program earlier this month, which could lead to charges being dismissed. Even if the charges are dismissed, Ozuna still could face punishment from MLB, which is conducting its own investigation.
Ozuna, 30, was on the injured list with two broken fingers when the incident occurred. He was in the first year of a four-year contract that guaranteed him $65 million. Other Braves notes: ■ After consecutive extra-inning losses, the Braves have further lowered their production in the additional frames. In Wednesday’s defeat, the Braves went quietly in the 10th outside a hit by pitch. On Friday in San Francisco, the Braves went 0-for-6 over the two extra innings, failing to advance the placed base runner.
In 13 extra-inning games, the Braves’ offense is 7 for 49 (.143). That number looks even worse in context: The Braves had three extra-inning hits in their wild win over the Phillies on May 8, so they have four across their other extra-inning games.
“I don’t know, there isn’t any explaining it,” manager Brian Snitker said.
Commissioner Rob Manfred’s controversial extra-innings rule was meant to speed along the games. But the Braves haven’t taken advantage of the placed runner. It starts in the 10th inning, where the Braves are 2 for 37 (.054).
■ It’s not just extras: The Braves were 3 for 21 with runners in scoring position over their past two games (22 innings) entering Saturday night, both one-run losses in extras. The Phillies won both their games in that time and entered Saturday two games behind the Braves in the National League East.
■ The Braves have 29 one-run losses this season, second-most in the majors behind only the Mets (32), who suffered a one-run loss to the Phillies on Friday.
■ Reliever Josh Tomlin began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. He allowed three runs on four hits across three innings against Nashville. Tomlin, 36, has been on the injured list since Aug. 31 with a strained neck.
■ Chris Martin, another experienced reliever in the Braves’ bullpen, returned this past week from an IL stint and pitched Friday. He pitched a scoreless seventh, surrendering a two-out double to Mike Yastrzemski before escaping the threat by striking out Darin Ruf.
It was Martin’s first appearance since Sept. 1, when he was charged a run on two hits in a loss to the Dodgers and was placed on the IL with elbow inflammation the next day.