Let’s talk about a team that just knows how to build a contender—year in, year out—the Atlanta Braves.
They won six straight NL East titles leading into the 2024 season, have a rock-solid core, and a front office playing chess while the rest of the league is fumbling with checkers.
From Ronald Acuña Jr. electrifying crowds to Spencer Strider mowing down hitters to Matt Olson launching bombs, this team is stacked.
And now? They’ve got a big decision to make on one of their most productive bats—Marcell Ozuna.
Ozuna’s Offensive Firepower Is Elite
Now in his fifth season with Atlanta, Ozuna isn’t just another piece in the lineup. He’s been a force. He is a three-time All-Star, a guy who crushes baseballs at an elite rate, and someone who’s made it very clear—he wants to stay in Atlanta.
And you know what? That might be a no-brainer for the Braves, considering what he’s done at the plate.
Let’s look at the numbers because they do a lot of the talking here. Since May 1, 2023, Ozuna has belted 77 home runs—fourth-most in all of baseball, trailing only Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Kyle Schwarber.
That’s elite company. His 202 RBIs over that span? Fifth in the sport. His .944 OPS? Sixth-best in the league.
If you dive into the advanced metrics, it only gets better—Ozuna ranked in the 96th percentile in hard-hit percentage and 98th in expected slugging percentage last season.
Translation? He’s smoking the ball at a rate few can match.
A Crucial Contract Decision Looms
But here’s where things get interesting: Ozuna is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. The Braves exercised his $16 million club option for 2024 but after that?
He’s set to hit free agency in 2026 unless an extension is reached. And if Atlanta lets him test the market, there will be no shortage of suitors lining up for his services.
Ozuna has made it crystal clear—he doesn’t want to bounce around. He told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Justin Toscano, “I don’t want to be jumping around… I want to keep in one spot most of the time.”
That’s the kind of statement that should make the Braves front office take notice.
Should the Braves Lock Him Up?
They’ve locked up key guys before—Acuña, Olson, Strider, Austin Riley—so why not keep the good vibes rolling? Letting a power bat like Ozuna walk would be a tough pill for a team built on continuity.
Sure, he’s 34, but as long as he keeps hitting at this level, he’s a major asset. If Atlanta wants to keep its offensive engine humming, keeping Ozuna in a Braves uniform in the long term might just be the next smart move.
