Former home run king Marcell Ozuna, 32, of the Atlanta Braves, was removed from the game.
Ozuna started the game in the No. 7 spot in the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Chase Field in Chase, Arizona, on Friday (May 5), going 1-for-1 at the plate before being removed from the game.
In her first at-bat with the bases loaded in the second inning, with her team trailing 1-0, she drew a walk. Albies followed with a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3. Ozuna led off the fourth inning with a walk and stole second. He took a 93.5 mph five-pitch fastball from Arizona starter Zach Galen right on the button. The pitch sailed high and far, and Ozuna stared at it. He thought it was a home run. But the ball bounced off the fence 스포츠토토, and Ozuna, who had gotten a late start, could only reach first base. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and took third on Arcea’s subsequent grounder to second. Harris grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
The play irked the commander. If Ozuna had played normally, he could have easily stolen second base, which would have tied the game.
He blew it, and then the crisis came: a two-run homer to Marte in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker had his horns firmly planted. He sprang into action. With one out in the sixth, he pulled Ozuna and brought in Sean Murphy to pinch-hit. Ozuna was removed after just one at-bat.
After the game, Fox Sports explained, “Snitker confirmed that Ozuna was taken out of the game because he didn’t show any hustle.”
Atlanta went on to win the game 8-5, thanks to Olson’s RBI single in the seventh and Rosario’s grand slam in the ninth.
Ozuna was the best hitter in the league until three years ago. After signing a one-year deal with Atlanta in 2020, the outfielder exploded that year with 18 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a 1.067 OPS. He led the National League in home runs and RBIs that year, which was played in a 60-game shortened season. He also won the National League’s first Silver Slugger for his performance that year, the first in the league’s history to utilize the temporary system. Atlanta signed him to a four-year, $65 million contract after the season.
Since then, however, he has had more incidents than success. In 2021, he was arrested for domestic violence, and last year he stirred up controversy with a DUI.
And this year, he angered fans with his lackadaisical play that didn’t involve a full sprint.