At the start of the 2025 MLB season, Marcell Ozuna looked like a rejuvenated slugger with a fresh approach at the plate. Drawing walks at a rate reminiscent of prime Barry Bonds, Ozuna was quietly becoming one of the most reliable bats in the Braves’ lineup while the rest of Atlanta’s offense sputtered.
But then came a decision that changed everything — and not in a good way.
Ozuna’s Hot Start Gave Braves Hope Amid Slumping Offense
While names like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley struggled to find their footing early in the year, Ozuna stood tall as the club’s most consistent offensive presence. Through June 1, he was slashing an impressive .284/.427/.474, suitable for a 19.9% walk rate and the 12th-best wRC+ in baseball.
Not only was he seeing the ball well, but he was making pitchers sweat. Ozuna’s patience at the plate was elite, and his ability to get on base made him a key cog in the Braves’ lineup, even as the power numbers cooled slightly.
Braves Publicly Reveal Hip Injury — and Ozuna’s Value Tanks
Then came a puzzling move from Atlanta’s front office. GM Alex Anthopoulos revealed that Ozuna had been playing through a nagging hip injury, one expected to hamper him the rest of the season. Whether the team hoped to get ahead of the narrative or simply explain a slight dip in performance, the result was swift and dramatic.
Pitchers stopped pitching around him. He saw more strikes. He started swinging more. The walk rate fell off a cliff — and so did the production. Since June 2, Ozuna has slashed a brutal .167/.261/.258 with a 46 wRC+, ranking among the bottom ten hitters in MLB over that span.
Trade Deadline Outlook: Braves May Have Lost Their Leverage
As the Braves’ playoff odds sink lower by the day, all signs point to them being sellers at the deadline. But by revealing Ozuna’s injury status so early, they’ve tanked the value of one of their most intriguing trade chips. Even healthy, designated hitters rarely fetch premium returns due to their limited defensive value.
Look no further than last year, when the Braves picked up Jorge Soler from the Giants for a lottery-ticket prospect. And while rare DH deals like the 2021 Nelson Cruz–Joe Ryan swap still give hope to contenders, Ozuna’s current state puts him far from that category.
Even if teams were interested, the injury would show up on a physical, but now, the Braves have confirmed it impairs his performance. That’s the kind of transparency that may be too honest for trade season.
Instead of a mid-level prospect or fringe contributor, Atlanta might now be looking at little more than a minor league filler in return. The bat that once anchored their lineup might not even anchor a trade package anymore.
In short? By playing their cards too early, the Braves may have folded before the game even started.
