The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly parted ways with Marcell Ozuna before he could finish his first season with the team.
Event Context
Ozuna struggled to find his offensive rhythm following a challenging start to the season, ending April with a dismal batting average of .162. Although he showed some improvement in May—raising his average to .219 while hitting three home runs and driving in 13 runs—his performance remained underwhelming. In June, he managed to boost his batting average to .263, but his chances to play became more limited.
His last game with the Pittsburgh Pirates took place on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds, where he recorded one hit in four at-bats, including a double. Despite having nine seasons where he hit at least 20 home runs, he was unable to replicate that success while with the team.
As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Simon’s promotion to the roster was finalized late Tuesday night after a position was opened on the 40-man roster.
Player Focus
The Pittsburgh team has announced the promotion of 26-year-old switch-hitting utility player Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the roster spot left by Ozuna. Simon is enjoying a standout season in the International League, where he leads with an impressive .330 batting average and boasts an .889 OPS. Additionally, he has demonstrated significant effectiveness against left-handed pitchers, recording a stellar 1.057 OPS in those matchups this year.
Match Outlook
Ozuna signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates in February, which included a mutual option for the 2027 season. This acquisition aimed to enhance the team’s lineup by adding a seasoned power hitter, but the results fell short of expectations.
Throughout 70 games, the 35-year-old outfielder managed a batting average of .203, hitting eight home runs and driving in 29 runs. This performance was significantly lower than his All-Star season with the Atlanta Braves in 2024, where he posted a .302 average with 39 home runs.
Given his batting difficulties, Pittsburgh’s decision to part ways with him as the season wound down was not surprising, especially as the team sought to adjust its roster.
With a distinguished career in Major League Baseball, Ozuna has earned three All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger Awards, accumulated 1,618 career hits, and hit 304 home runs across 1,684 games played.
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MLB insider Mike Rodriguez reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates released their veteran designated hitter on Wednesday, just a few months after signing him in the offseason. Baseball Reference indicates that his time with the Pirates concluded with a -1.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). He participated in only 11 games in June and 12 in July, as manager Don Kelly gradually reduced his playing time.
