Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna was removed from Sunday’s game for not hustling after hitting a drive to deep center field, manager Brian Snitker confirmed after the game.
In the fourth inning of the Braves’ 8-5 victory over the host Arizona Diamondbacks, Ozuna smashed a Zac Gallen offering to deep center that would’ve been a home run in 26 of 30 major league ballparks, according to USA Today.
However, it was only a 415-foot single as Ozuna stood at home plate, admiring his work as the ball caromed off the center field wall.
Marcell Ozuna stood and watched what he thought was a home run… he ended up with a single ??pic.twitter.com/vL0xMFN69Y
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 4, 2023
Ozuna, 32, was replaced at DH by Sean Murphy, who went 0-for-3 in his place.
A two-time All-Star, Ozuna is hitting .227 with 11 home runs and 23 RBIs in 44 games this season. In 11 seasons with the Miami Marlins (2013-17), St. Louis Cardinals (2018-19) and Braves, Ozuna is a .267 hitter with 207 homers and 699 RBIs in 1,207 games.
Ozuna, who has had some legal trouble off the field, is in the third year of a four-year, $65 million contract he signed before the 2021 season.
–Field Level Media