Marcell Ozuna made his return to the Braves Sunday after a brief absence due to his arrest on a driving under the influence charge on Friday, but Atlanta fans weren’t happy to see him back in uniform.
The reception he received from Braves fans at Truist Park was less than welcoming as a chorus of boos greeted the embattled outfielder each time he stepped up to the plate. He was booed before his first and second at-bats, but it was even louder after he struck out each time.
Ozuna was arrested early Friday morning and later released on bond. The video of his arrest from the police officer’s body camera went viral over the weekend.
The arrest was Ozuna’s second in the last 16 months after he was charged with aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police said they witnessed him attack his wife.
He later completed a pretrial diversion program and the charges were dropped, but he was placed on administrative leave by MLB and then suspended 20 games. He served his suspension at the end of the 2021 season and returned for the beginning of the 2022 campaign.
Ozuna, who was hitting in the No. 8 spot for Atlanta Sunday, was removed from the game for pinch-hitter Eddie Rosario after striking out in his first two at-bats versus Astros starter Jose Urquidy.
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Marcell Ozuna loudly booed after striking out in his first AB since his latest arrest. pic.twitter.com/AVOZ5Hgze9
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) August 21, 2022
“It’s kind of a motivator,” Ozuna, 31, told reporters about the boos. “Just don’t listen to whatever they’re saying, keep my head up and do my best.”
Despite his arrests, the Braves are sticking by their left fielder.
Footage from Marcell Ozuna’s 4:30am DUI arrest has been released
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 19, 2022
“I’m Ozuna from the Braves.” @Barstool_ATL @Starting9 pic.twitter.com/85CwW30AXl
“I told Marcell, he’s part of this team,” Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters. “He’s going to play left field. … He’s on our team right now, he’s a member of our team. We’re going to play him as needed.”
Ozuna, in his third season with Atlanta, is having a down year, hitting .213 with a .653 on-base plus slugging. His negative-1.4 wins above replacement on Baseball-Reference makes him one of the worst players in the majors this season.
He signed a four-year, $65 million contract after hitting .338 with an NL-best 18 home runs and 56 RBIs during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
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