It’s hard to talk about baseball these days without seeing Shohei Ohtani’s name pop up. He’s in the ads and in the highlight reels. He’s basically everywhere. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has become the face of MLB in the U.S. and internationally. But in ESPN’s latest breakdown of April’s best, one big name is surprisingly missing, leaving the door open for the Atlanta Braves slugger, Marcell Ozuna, to crash the party.
Ozuna Outshines Ohtani in the DH Race
That’s right — while ESPN handed out its honors for the month’s All-Stars, surprises, and disappointments, the Braves’ designated hitter, Marcell Ozuna, was front and center. Ohtani? There is no mention in the DH category.
Despite being the league’s poster child, the numbers tell a different story this time around. Ohtani’s slash line of .286/.375/.533 with a 151 wRC+ is strong — for most players, it’s All-Star material. But for Ohtani, it’s noticeably down from his usual extraterrestrial standards.
Meanwhile, Ozuna? He’s been on fire. With a 190 wRC+ in April, he’s not just beating Ohtani — he’s trailing only two players in all of baseball: Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso.
Even with “just” five home runs and three doubles, Ozuna has been a hitting machine. He’s making the most of every at-bat, delivering power and plate discipline in equal measure.
Plate Discipline That Turns Heads
What’s really turning heads, though, is Ozuna’s walk rate. At a league-best 24.8%, he’s not just showing patience — he’s dominating pitchers mentally.
His 26 walks are tied for the most in MLB with Matt Chapman, and here’s the kicker: Chapman has played five more games. It’s not just about waiting for pitches — Ozuna’s vision and command of the zone are next level right now.
ESPN even dropped a wild comparison: the only player to put up a walk rate like this across a full season? Barry Bonds. Yep. The guy who was intentionally walked with the bases loaded. Except here’s the thing — Ozuna’s doing it without any of those freebies. Every one of his 26 walks has been earned the hard way.
The Braves’ Quiet MVP Candidate?
This national recognition couldn’t come at a better time for Atlanta. The Braves offense hit a rough patch early in the season, and Ozuna’s bat helped stabilize things during those shaky weeks.
His production hasn’t just been good — it’s been critical. He was the lone Brave to make ESPN’s top-performers list for April, and no one’s arguing he didn’t earn it.
Now, the front office has a decision to make. Ozuna’s contract is up at the season’s end. Do you ride the hot bat into October and risk losing him? Or do you make a move now, lock him up, and send a message that you’re building around this kind of production?
One thing’s clear: Marcell Ozuna isn’t just making noise — he’s drowning out the league’s loudest star. It’s not Ohtani lighting up the headlines for at least one month. It’s Ozuna, and he’s doing it the old-fashioned way — with patience, power, and persistence.
