Braves star Ozuna asks for pardon from the public before the HR Derby.

The All-Star player for the Braves is pleading for pardon.
This season, Marcell Ozuna has been the most reliable and dominant offensive player for the Atlanta Braves. As a result, he will play for the second-place Braves in Monday night’s Home Run Derby in addition to being selected for the MLB All-Star Game.

The Braves offense has struggled this season due to injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson’s decline, and Ozzie Albies’ much below-average play. We’re used to Atlanta dominating the NL East and acting like an unstoppable force, slugging it out with the other teams. With little indication of improvement, the Braves are currently 8.5 games behind the Phillies in first place.

Ozuna has been a huge output booster for the Braves offense when he bats second base. He’s slicing halfway through the season.303/.379/.581 with 353 ABs, 26 home runs, and a National League-high 77 RBI. Ozuna has been positioned as the team’s savior in 2024 after previously being a major cause of embarrassment for the franchise and a frequent focus of hostility from the Braves fanbase.
The All-Star shared the following with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale:

“I apologize; I see that I was wrong, but I’ve changed for the better. Everybody has erred. As did I. But please don’t hold me responsible for my error. I am a person. I’m not flawless. But, you know, nobody is. God alone.”

To be fair, Ozuna has not been severely punished. The Braves have never removed him from the roster or assessed a significant financial penalty, and he is still a major player for them. After his arrest for domestic abuse, the MLB suspended Ozuna for 20 games—a drop in the ocean compared to the seriousness of the offense. As soon as Ozuna consented to community service and counseling, the legal charges were dropped.

Marcell Ozuna asks for forgiveness from Braves fans Despite multiple bottom-dwelling seasons at the plate amid extensive legal issues, Ozuna remained on the Braves roster and never lost the faith of his manager or teammates, who all attest to his leadership and engagement in the locker room. Ozuna did face the wrath of Braves fans, which he deserved on every level. But never was there much tangibly taken away from the three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger. So, while it’s understandable for Ozuna to seek absolution from those who root for the Braves… has he not already? The boos that once shrouded him in Truist Park have subsided. When you play well and there is value supplied on the baseball field, the league and fans alike tend to brush past mistakes under the rug.

Regretfully, it is how the majority of professional sports leagues run. Priorities are given to the product over practical consequences. Even Ozuna acknowledges that he did something that cannot be justified. It’s wonderful that he says he’s developed as a person, but it doesn’t imply forgiveness is automatically given. Absolution and personal development are not the same thing.

Whether deserved or not, Ozuna’s personal comeback story is now complete. In addition to performing over All-Star weekend, he keeps the Braves in the hunt. Ozuna clearly feels the weight of the past. With the support of MLB viewers and Atlanta fans, he would like to proceed.