What a year it’s been for Marcell Ozuna! The Atlanta Braves slugger is officially in the running for one of Major League Baseball’s top honors: the Hank Aaron Award, given to the best offensive player in each league.
Ozuna’s 2024 campaign was nothing short of impressive, as he slashed .302/.378/.546, amassing a notable 4.7 fWAR (Wins Above Replacement) as a designated hitter and posting a stellar 154 wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus). These stats easily place him among the league’s elite, and now the MLB voting community has taken notice.
“Big Bear” even hit a major career milestone this season, getting his 1,500th career hit. The single might have appeared routine, but it represented years of hard work and persistence, adding another milestone to an already remarkable season.
1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ career hits for Big Bear!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/8W44kLMJKo
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 14, 2024
Looking ahead, 2025 promises to bring significant career milestones for Ozuna. With 273 home runs and 874 RBIs to his name, the 300 home run and 900 RBI marks are well within his grasp for the upcoming season.
This year, Ozuna has stood out as one of the Braves’ most reliable hitters, consistently delivering at the plate when the team needed it most. He’s also the only position player from Atlanta to secure an All-Star selection.
It’s worth mentioning that this award isn’t unfamiliar to the Braves organization. Just last year, teammate Ronald Acuña Jr. brought the Hank Aaron Award home after a jaw-dropping season. And who could forget Freddie Freeman’s 2020 victory during that wild, shortened season? Though Ozuna is a DH now, Braves fans will also recall former Braves Matt Kemp and José Bautista clinching the award in 2011 with different teams. With Atlanta’s recent history of top-tier offensive production,
Ozuna’s nomination is just the latest in a string of Braves successes. So, where does Ozuna stack up statistically? He’s second in home runs (HR), second in wRC+, third in batting average (AVG), fourth in RBIs, tenth in fWAR, and eighth from last in stolen bases (SB) among National League hitters.
For a while, he was even making noise in Triple Crown conversations, chasing the elusive title of leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. While those numbers are nothing to scoff at, this year’s Hank Aaron Award race is overshadowed by the incredible Shohei Ohtani, who seems like the clear favorite. Still, Ozuna’s season has been a massive success, significantly contributing to the Braves’ push to the postseason.
If you’re looking to cast your vote for Marcell Ozuna, head over to MLB.com/hank-aaron-award and make your voice heard. Whether he takes home the award or not, it’s clear Ozuna’s 2024 season will be one to remember for Braves fans and MLB alike.
