Is it time for the Braves to think about extending Marcell Ozuna’s contract?

Over the past week, inquiries about the Braves pitching staff have surfaced. The bullpen also displayed some of its shortcomings in the series against the Mets, primarily because Spencer Strider is anticipated to have Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the season. Fortunately, April is still young. The Braves don’t need to worry about the offense since they have plenty of time to iron out the flaws before things become serious.

In 2023, the Braves have continued where they left off (postseason not included). While a number of players have had incredible starts, Marcell Ozuna is the most attractive.
I’m not quite sure I’ve seen a turnaround as drastic as the one we’ve witnessed over the last calendar year with the Big Bear. In April of 2023, he was undoubtedly the most despised figure in Atlanta sports. A rain of boos met him every time he stepped into the batter’s box at Truist Park, thanks to his off-the-field issues combined with dismal production on the field.

The announcement that he was assigned to a new team was eagerly anticipated by Braves supporters, and I must say, I was surprised he progressed as far as he did. Marcell Ozuna was hitting.086 by the end of April and had lost his starting position. Before long, it seemed inevitable that he would be freed. However, it’s a compliment to Marcell Ozuna, who worked behind the scenes, and the Braves’ tenacity in holding on for dear life despite being ridiculed by the public.
There was one thing that everyone in the clubhouse knew about Ozuna, even after his several arrests—something he will always have to deal with—and that was that he was an amazing teammate. He turned up for work, put in a ton of effort to figure out what was wrong with his swing, and did it all while grinning and supporting colleagues by giving guidance when needed.
The Braves stuck with him because of this, and it has been a wise decision. Ozuna completed his first-ever 40-home-run season by hitting.297 with 38 home runs and 98 RBIs from May of last year to the end of the season. He has started 2024 even hotter. With five home runs so far this season, the Big Bear has hit safely in ten straight games. More significantly, though, his teammates’ positive evaluations keep coming in.

After where things were less than a year ago, I can’t even believe I’m about to type this line, but it might be time to think about giving Marcell Ozuna a break.

It would be nothing major; rather, it would be a reward for his hard work, similar to what the Braves have done with Travis d’Arnaud and Charlie Morton. Similar to those two, Ozuna has a team option for 2025; the Braves could add another team option in 2026. It’s not much, and there’s a chance that he experiences another protracted slump later in the season, but as of right now, it’s hard to imagine this Braves team without Ozuna on it come 2025.