The Braves' offense has largely cratered this season, with Matt Olson and Austin Riley regressing sharply from 2023 and reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. suffering a torn ACL in May. Marcell Ozuna has been the exception.
While the rest of Atlanta's lineup struggles to find its footing, Ozuna has taken the momentum he built late last year and turned it into one of the best offensive seasons in baseball.
It was only a little more than a year ago that Ozuna was seemingly at risk of being designated for assignment. He hit just .085 in April 2023 and appeared to be more of a liability than anything given his myriad legal troubles. As the season progressed, though, Ozuna's bat heated up. It hasn't cooled down since, and it has him in the Home Run Derby for the first time in his career.
Here's a look at Ozuna's history of legal issues and why he's in the Home Run Derby despite them.
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Marcell Ozuna timeline of legal trouble
Domestic violence arrest
Ozuna was arrested and charged with aggravated assault by strangulation in May 2021, just a few months after he re-signed with the Braves on a four-year, $65 million contract.
Ozuna was accused of grabbing his wife by the neck and pinning her against the wall, leading to his arrest. Police actually observed part of the alleged assault when they arrived at the All-Star's home.
The charges would later be dropped after Ozuna completed a diversion program. He was also required to complete a family violence intervention program spanning nearly six months, as well as an anger management course and 200 hours of community service.
Ozuna told reporters he "learned how you treat a person, how you be a better person, how you be the best daddy, how you be a human being," while completing counseling.
Ozuna's wife, Genesis Guzman, was similarly arrested for domestic battery against the Braves slugger in 2020. The two remain married despite the incidents.
Ozuna only received a retroactive 20-game suspension, though he did not play the final four months of the 2021 season on administrative leave while the legal process played out.
DUI arrest
Ozuna's legal troubles took another unfortunate turn when he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence in August 2022.
Norcross Police in Georgia observed Ozuna struggling to stay in one lane and speeding nearly 90 mph on a road with a 35-mph speed limit. Footage of the arrest later revealed that Ozuna tried to avoid trouble by telling police, "I'm Ozuna from the Braves."
In a statement, Ozuna said he "disappointed my team, disappointed my family," with the arrest. He would plea no contest and pay a fine to settle the matter.
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Why is Marcell Ozuna in the Home Run Derby?
Many fans questioned why Ozuna was selected to participate in the Home Run Derby at all, given his checkered past. While the league hasn't commented on what went into the decision, Ozuna served the suspension that was handed down in his domestic violence case and was not suspended for his DUI arrest.
MLB wasn't going to avoid Ozuna's presence on All-Star weekend regardless of whether he participated in the derby. Though he wasn't selected as a starter thanks to Shohei Ohtani's excellence in the designated hitter role, Ozuna's stellar offensive numbers made him a virtual lock for the NL All-Star roster.
With stars such as Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Ohtani declining the derby and most players who aren't All-Stars unwilling to make the trip just to participate in Monday night's event, MLB wasn't exactly loaded with viable Home Run Derby options. With Ozuna second in the NL in home runs behind only Ohtani, it would've been tough for the league to pass up on offering him a spot.
That doesn't mean there won't be plenty of questions about the decision. Ozuna's domestic violence incident was extremely troubling, despite the charges being dropped, and his DUI arrest further complicated his damaged reputation. By all accounts, though, Ozuna has done what's been asked of him over the past two seasons. That was evidently enough for MLB to sign off on his participation in Arlington.
