Brave slugger Marcell Ozuna was booed by the Atlanta home crowd Sunday in the veteran quarterback’s first appearance since being arrested for driving under influence.
Ozuna was booked early on Friday and issued the bond later that morning. This is the second arrest in as many years for Ozuna, who was also arrested in May 2021 on aggravated assault by strangulation and battery life after police officers said they had witnessed him attack his wife. Those fees were dropped after he completed a pre-start diversion program.
Ozuna, the number 8 in Atlanta’s line-up against Houston Astros, was greeted with a round of boos at Truist Park before his first Sunday in the second round. The boos were much louder after Ozuna struck against the Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy.
Ozuna was booed again after another attack against Urquidy in the fifth round. He was picked up for cheating Eddie Rosario later in the game and finish 0 eat 2 in Braves’ 5-4 loss.
“I don’t want Eddie, with his hamstring, to play. Ronald [Acuna] going to DH, so we have to have someone on the left,” Braves coach Brian Snitker said after the game why he started Ozuna. I told Marcell, he’s part of this team. He will play on the left side of the field. … He’s on our team, he’s a member of our team. We will play him when necessary. “
Ozuna, asked after the match if he was annoyed or motivated by boos, said his reaction was the following.
“It’s a motivator. Just don’t listen to anything they’re saying, stay mentally strong and do your best,” he said.
The game marks the first appearance since August 14 for Ozuna, who hasn’t played in the first six games of Atlanta’s seven-game house. Snitker said Friday that he spoke with Ozuna but did not provide details of their conversation. Snitker said he doesn’t know if Ozuna will face a suspension.
The Braves released a statement Friday after Ozuna’s arrest, saying “the organization takes these matters very seriously and is clearly disappointed in the situation” but declined to comment further, citing the situation. legal action is taking place. Ozuna did not respond to questions on Friday and issued a brief statement to reporters, saying he “frustrated my team” and “frustrated my family.”
Ozuna, 31, is in her third season in Atlanta and in the second year of a four-year, $65 million contract. He’s beaten 0.338 and leads the National League with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs in 2020 but has dropped below 0.215 for two consecutive seasons.
Ozuna entered Sunday’s game .214 with 20 home throws and 46 RBIs this season – substandard production leading to a drop in playing time even before he was arrested on Friday.
After his arrest in 2021, Ozuna was placed on administrative leave during an MLB investigation and missed Atlanta’s World Series championship. He was then given a 20-game suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy in November. The suspension came into effect on September 10 and covers the final 24 days of the 2021 regular season, allowing him We’re back at the beginning of this season.
A pre-trial diversion program that reduces prior charges includes three to six months of supervision, a 24-week domestic violence intervention program, at least 200 hours of community service, and a Anger management course.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
