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Shocking Move: Pirates Release Marcell Ozuna Immediately
Pittsburgh Pirates Release Struggling Slugger Marcell Ozuna
What Happened?
The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to release (cut ties with) designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. This move comes just months after signing him to a one-year, $12 million contract during the offseason. Reporter Mike Rodriguez broke the news that the team will officially let him go today.
What does "release" mean?
When a team releases a player, they cut him from the roster entirely. The player becomes a free agent and can sign with any other team. The Pirates still have to pay the rest of his $12 million salary, but they no longer have to give him playing time.
Why Did They Sign Him in the First Place?
During the offseason, the Pirates wanted to add a powerful right-handed bat to their lineup. Their first choice was Kyle Schwarber, a star slugger who hits lots of home runs. However, they missed out on Schwarber (he signed elsewhere).
So they turned to Plan B: Marcell Ozuna, a 35-year-old veteran who had been a very good hitter earlier in his career. The hope was he could be the team’s Designated Hitter (DH) — a player who only bats and doesn’t play defense in the field.
How Bad Was It? (The Numbers Made Simple)
Unfortunately, Ozuna never found his groove in Pittsburgh. Here’s how his season looked in simple terms:
| Stat | What It Means | Ozuna’s Number | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | How often he gets a hit | .203 | Very low (1 hit per 5 at-bats) |
| On-Base Percentage | How often he reaches base safely | .286 | Below average |
| Slugging Percentage | How much power he shows | .327 | Very low for a DH |
| wRC+ | Overall offense vs. league average (100 = average) | 69 | 31% worse than average |
| Strikeout Rate | How often he strikes out | 28.6% | Career worst |
ELI5: What is wRC+?
Think of wRC+ like a report card for hitters.
- 100 = exactly average
- Above 100 = better than average
- Below 100 = worse than average
Ozuna’s 69 means he was 31% worse than a typical MLB hitter. For a player whose only job is to hit, that’s disastrous.
Extra concerning: In his best month (June), he still struck out 36% of the time — more than 1 in 3 plate appearances!
The Bigger Problem: A Struggling Lineup
Ozuna wasn’t the only issue. Pirates designated hitters as a group have been among the worst in baseball:
- Combined batting line: .223/.293/.363
- Team DH wRC+: 79 (4th-worst in all of MLB)
- Only the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Royals got less production from the DH spot
This weak spot in the batting order put extra pressure on the rest of the lineup to score runs.
Injuries Make Things Worse
Just as Ozuna was struggling, the Pirates got hit with an injury crisis. Three of their best hitters are currently on the injured list:
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oneil Cruz | Broken fingers | Out |
| Konnor Griffin | Torn tendon in hand | Out |
| Ryan O’Hearn | Quad strain | Out at least 6 weeks |
Losing three key bats at once makes the Ozuna situation even more painful — the team has very little offensive depth right now.
What Happens Next at DH?
With Ozuna gone, manager Don Kelly will use a rotation of players at designated hitter. The leading candidates:
- Ryan O’Hearn — Has DH experience, but injured for 6+ weeks
- Bryan Reynolds — All-Star outfielder who can DH sometimes (but plays OF most days)
- Jhostnyxon Garcia — Young player who could get more opportunities now
- Jacob Gonzalez — Another option to cycle in
- Others — The team will likely mix and match based on matchups
"Cycling through players" means:
Instead of one guy playing DH every day, the manager will pick different players for different games — maybe a lefty hitter vs. righty pitchers, a righty vs. lefties, or giving regular fielders a "half-day off" by letting them DH instead of playing defense.
Important Points to Remember
- The Pirates owe Ozuna his full $12M salary — releasing him doesn’t save money, it just opens a roster spot
- This was a "sunk cost" decision — the front office admitted a mistake and moved on rather than letting pride keep a bad player in the lineup
- The DH spot has been a black hole all year — Ozuna was the main culprit, but not the only one
- Injuries forced their hand — with three stars out, they can’t afford an automatic out in the lineup every day
- Young players may benefit — Garcia and Gonzalez could get valuable MLB experience
Summary
The Pittsburgh Pirates released Marcell Ozuna after he posted historically bad numbers as their designated hitter (.203 average, 69 wRC+, career-worst strikeout rate). Signed as a $12M fallback after missing on Kyle Schwarber, Ozuna never produced. The move comes at a terrible time — the team is already missing three top hitters (Cruz, Griffin, O’Hearn) to injury. Manager Don Kelly will now use a committee approach at DH, rotating players like Bryan Reynolds, Jhostnyxon Garcia, and Jacob Gonzalez until the injured stars return.
FAQ
Q: Why didn’t the Pirates trade Ozuna instead of releasing him?
A: No team would trade for a player hitting .203 with a 28.6% strikeout rate who’s owed millions. His value was essentially zero. Releasing him was the only realistic option.
Q: Does this mean the Pirates are giving up on the season?
A: Not necessarily. It means they recognized a fixable problem (a terrible DH spot) and tried to solve it. They’re still in the playoff hunt, but the injuries make it much harder.
Q: Who is Jhostnyxon Garcia?
A: A 24-year-old infielder/outfielder in the Pirates system. He’s not a famous prospect, but he’s hit well in the minors and now gets a chance to prove himself in the majors.
Q: What happens to the $12 million the Pirates owed Ozuna?
A: They still have to pay it. The money is "sunk" — already committed. Releasing him doesn’t save cash, but it saves a roster spot for someone who might actually help.
Q: Could Ozuna sign with another team?
A: Yes! He becomes a free agent. A team needing a veteran righty bat might take a flier on him for the league minimum (the Pirates still pay his salary minus that minimum). But given his 2025 performance, it’s unlikely he gets a major league deal.
