PHOENIX — Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna was removed from Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks for not hustling after hitting a drive to deep center field, manager Brian Snitker confirmed after the contest.
In the fourth inning of the Braves’ 8-5 victory, Ozuna smashed a Zac Gallen offering to deep center. He ended up on first base, settling for a 415-foot single because Ozuna stood at home plate and watched the ball reach its destination instead of running right after contact.
Instead of landing in the seats, the ball hit an overhang just below the line that marks a home run. Snitker then replaced Ozuna with Sean Murphy in the sixth inning. Murphy went 0-for-3 after entering.
“I guarantee he feels worse than I do for having to take him out,” Snitker said of Ozuna.
A two-time All-Star, Ozuna, 32, is hitting .227 with 11 home runs and 23 RBIs in 44 games this season. In 11 campaigns with the Miami Marlins (2013-17), St. Louis Cardinals (2018-19) and Braves, Ozuna is a .267 hitter with 207 homers and 699 RBIs in 1,207 games.
Ozuna, who has had some legal trouble off the field, is in the third year of a four-year, $65 million contract he signed before the 2021 season.
Last month, Ozuna reached a plea agreement following his 2022 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. He entered a no-contest plea and paid a $1,000 fine, according to Norcross (Georgia) Municipal Court records.
Ozuna was arrested on Aug. 19, 2022, by a Norcross Police officer in metro Atlanta and booked into the Gwinnett County jail. He was charged with DUI and failure to maintain lane and was released on $1,830 bond.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com