The Braves’ offense has largely cratered this season, with Matt Olson and Austin Riley regressing sharply from 2023 and reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. struggling a torn ACL in Could. Marcell Ozuna has been the exception.
Whereas the remainder of Atlanta’s lineup struggles to seek out its footing, Ozuna has taken the momentum he constructed late final yr and turned it into top-of-the-line offensive seasons in baseball.
It was solely slightly greater than a yr in the past that Ozuna was seemingly vulnerable to being designated for task. He hit simply .085 in April 2023 and seemed to be extra of a legal responsibility than something given his myriad authorized troubles. Because the season progressed, although, Ozuna’s bat heated up. It hasn’t cooled down since, and it has him within the Dwelling Run Derby for the primary time in his profession.
This is a take a look at Ozuna’s historical past of authorized points and why he is within the Dwelling Run Derby regardless of them.
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Marcell Ozuna timeline of authorized hassle
Home violence arrest
Ozuna was arrested and charged with aggravated assault by strangulation in Could 2021, only a few months after he re-signed with the Braves on a four-year, $65 million contract.
Ozuna was accused of grabbing his spouse by the neck and pinning her towards the wall, resulting in his arrest. Police truly noticed a part of the alleged assault after they arrived on the All-Star’s residence.
The costs would later be dropped after Ozuna accomplished a diversion program. He was additionally required to finish a household violence intervention program spanning practically six months, in addition to an anger administration course and 200 hours of neighborhood service.
Ozuna advised reporters he “realized the way you deal with an individual, the way you be a greater individual, the way you be the perfect daddy, the way you be a human being,” whereas finishing counseling.
Ozuna’s spouse, Genesis Guzman, was equally arrested for home battery towards the Braves slugger in 2020. The 2 stay married regardless of the incidents.
Ozuna solely obtained a retroactive 20-game suspension, although he didn’t play the ultimate 4 months of the 2021 season on administrative go away whereas the authorized course of performed out.
DUI arrest
Ozuna’s authorized troubles took one other unlucky flip when he was arrested and charged with driving underneath the affect in August 2022.
Norcross Police in Georgia noticed Ozuna struggling to remain in a single lane and rushing practically 90 mph on a highway with a 35-mph pace restrict. Footage of the arrest later revealed that Ozuna tried to keep away from hassle by telling police, “I am Ozuna from the Braves.”
In an announcement, Ozuna mentioned he “disenchanted my staff, disenchanted my household,” with the arrest. He would plea no contest and pay a high-quality to settle the matter.
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Why is Marcell Ozuna within the Dwelling Run Derby?
Many followers questioned why Ozuna was chosen to take part within the Dwelling Run Derby in any respect, given his checkered previous. Whereas the league hasn’t commented on what went into the choice, Ozuna served the suspension that was handed down in his home violence case and was not suspended for his DUI arrest.
MLB wasn’t going to keep away from Ozuna’s presence on All-Star weekend no matter whether or not he participated within the derby. Although he wasn’t chosen as a starter due to Shohei Ohtani’s excellence within the designated hitter position, Ozuna’s stellar offensive numbers made him a digital lock for the NL All-Star roster.
With stars corresponding to Aaron Decide, Juan Soto, and Ohtani declining the derby and most gamers who aren’t All-Stars unwilling to make the journey simply to take part in Monday evening’s occasion, MLB wasn’t precisely loaded with viable Dwelling Run Derby choices. With Ozuna second within the NL in residence runs behind solely Ohtani, it could’ve been robust for the league to move up on providing him a spot.
That does not imply there will not be loads of questions concerning the determination. Ozuna’s home violence incident was extraordinarily troubling, regardless of the costs being dropped, and his DUI arrest additional difficult his broken fame. By all accounts, although, Ozuna has accomplished what’s been requested of him over the previous two seasons. That was evidently sufficient for MLB to log out on his participation in Arlington.
