It’s wild how baseball can turn on a dime. The Marcell Ozuna story with the Atlanta Braves is one for the books. It’s one that started with disappointment and transformed into redemption. If you rewound to early 2023, most fans were ready to pack his bags and send him on his way.
His performances seemed lackluster at best, and his off-the-field issues didn’t help his case. Fast forward to today, and Ozuna is thriving. Let’s unpack the turnaround he made over the years.
Marcell Ozuna’s Road Back
Ozuna’s struggles were painfully obvious back in 2021. A mix of injuries, a suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy, and legal troubles off the field painted a bleak picture.
On the field, his performance wasn’t doing him any favors—an OPS of just .645 before his absence and a disappointing .226/.274/.413 line when he did play. Fast forward to 2023, and Ozuna struggled early in the season. It seemed like his days as a Brave were numbered. But then, something clicked.
By the end of 2023, Ozuna was a new man at the plate. His .905 OPS and 40 home runs made fans take notice, and he followed that up with an even stronger 2024 season: .302/.378/.546, 39 homers, and 104 RBIs. Suddenly, Ozuna wasn’t just a piece of the Braves’ lineup but a cornerstone.
The Mechanics of a Comeback
So, what changed? According to Ozuna, it’s a mix of lifestyle adjustments and tweaks to his swing mechanics. While those are critical, they’re only part of the story. To really understand his resurgence, you have to dive into the numbers.
In 2020, Ozuna was a fastball destroyer, hitting .394 against them with a .765 slugging percentage. But breaking balls were his downfall, with a .203 average and a 48.7% whiff rate. That vulnerability got worse in 2021 and 2022, and to make matters worse, his fastball dominance disappeared—hitting just .240 and .241 against them in those years.
The last two seasons have been a different story. Ozuna rediscovered his ability to punish fastballs in 2023 and 2024, hitting .312 and .329 against them, respectively. While breaking balls still give him trouble, he’s made enough improvements to keep pitchers honest. This balance has turned him back into a legitimate offensive weapon.
What’s Next for Marcell Ozuna?
The Braves’ decision to pick up Ozuna’s option for 2025 wasn’t sentimental—it was strategic. His production over the last two seasons made it impossible to let him walk. Now, the challenge for Ozuna is maintaining this level of performance.
With his resurgence, he’s cemented his place in the Braves’ lineup, and as long as he keeps adjusting and delivering, there’s no reason to think his story in Atlanta is anywhere near its final chapter. Baseball’s a game of second chances, and Marcell Ozuna is making the most of his.
