Pirates Release Marcell Ozuna After Disappointing .203 Season
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- Pittsburgh Pirates released designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who had signed a one-year, $12 million deal before the season that included a mutual option for 2027
- Ozuna hit just .203 with eight home runs, 29 RBIs and a .613 OPS in 70 games, failing to deliver the offensive production the Pirates expected
- Ozuna has historically struggled at PNC Park, batting .229 with seven homers across 65 career games at a venue long considered difficult for right-handed hitters
- Pirates will call up switch-hitting utility man Ronny Simon, who leads the Triple-A International League with a .330 batting average for Indianapolis
- Simon has also recorded seven home runs, 63 RBIs and 33 stolen bases while reaching base in 85 of his 99 games this season
- Ozuna hit 21 homers for Atlanta in 2025 with a .756 OPS, down from .925 in 2024, with his 148 Braves homers from 2020-2025 ranking third among DHs behind Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber
Why it matters: The Pirates free a $12 million roster spot and hand a likely everyday role to Ronny Simon, whose 33 stolen bases and .330 Triple-A average suggest a speed-based direction rather than the right-handed power bat they hoped Ozuna would provide. A three-time All-Star exits Pittsburgh with career-long struggles at PNC Park.
