Batting average .265 Name Marcell Ozuna Weight 100 kg Runs batted in 161 Height 1.85 m | Home runs 36 Nationality Dominican Hits 344 Role Baseball player Career start 2008 | |
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Current team Miami Marlins (#13 / Outfielder) Similar People Christian Yelich, Jose Fernandez, Giancarlo Stanton, Martin Prado, Jeffrey Loria | ||
Ozuna's catch attempt goes awry
Marcell Ozuna Idelfonso (born November 12, 1990) is a Dominican professional baseball left fielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2013.
Contents
- Ozunas catch attempt goes awry
- Early life and family
- Minor Leagues
- Miami Marlins
- Personal life
- References
Early life and family
Marcell Ozuna Idelfonso was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His father is a former painter and his mother is a housekeeper. He has one brother and two sisters. He is the cousin of former MLB player Pablo Ozuna.
Minor Leagues
On February 15, 2008, Ozuna was signed by the Florida Marlins as a non-drafted free agent. He played for the DSL Marlins that year, where in 63 games, he hit .279 with 6 HR and 43 RBI and 8 SB. In 2009, he played for the GCL Marlins, where in 55 games, he hit .313 with 5 HR and 39 RBI.
Ozuna began 2010 with Single-A Greensboro, but was sidelined after 6 appearances with an injured wrist. He returned in June with Short Season Jamestown, where he finished the season. In 74 total games, he hit .258 with 22 HR and 62 RBI. Ozuna spent 2011 with Greensboro, where in 131 games, he hit .266 with 23 HR, 71 RBI and 17 SB.
Ozuna was promoted to A-Advanced Jupiter for the 2012 season, where in 129 games, he hit .266 with 24 HR and 95 RBI. That year, he led the Florida State League in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, and total bases. Ozuna was added to the Marlins' 40-man roster on November 20, 2012. Baseball America rated Ozuna the 75th best prospect in baseball prior to the 2013 season.
Ozuna opened 2013 with Jupiter, but after 4 games, he was promoted to Double-A Jacksonville. Ozuna was named the Southern League's player of the week on April 29, 2013. That same day, the Marlins promoted Ozuna to the major leagues following an injury to Giancarlo Stanton.
Miami Marlins
On April 30, 2013 Ozuna made his major league debut, and recorded his first career hit, a single off Jeremy Hefner of the New York Mets. He hit his first career home run (as well as his first RBI and run scored), a solo home run, off Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies, in his fifth game. Ozuna was used as the starting right fielder in Stanton's absence. When Stanton returned, Ozuna became the starting center fielder. On July 22, Ozuna was optioned back to Jacksonville. Instead of joining Jacksonville, Ozuna was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a ligament tear and avulsion fracture in his left thumb, which he injured while making a diving catch. On July 26, 2013, he underwent season-ending thumb surgery.
In 2014 Ozuna played a total of 153 games for the Marlins, batting .269 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs. On September 11, 2014, he tied a franchise record with home runs in four consecutive games.
On July 5, 2015, Ozuna was sent down to AAA after going hitless in 9 of 10 games, dipping his average to .249 on the season. After playing 33 games and batting .333 with 5 home runs and 11 RBIs, he returned to the Marlins to complete the 2015 season, batting .278 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. During the off-season the Marlins received several offers for him from other teams, but he was back on the roster for the 2016 season and inserted in the number-two spot in the lineup. As of July 12, 2016, he has batted in the 2, 4, and 5 spots in the order, hitting .307/.360/.533 with 17 home runs and 47 runs batted in and started at CF for the National League in the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Personal life
Ozuna is married to the former Genesis Guzman. They were expecting their first child in late 2014.