The Atlanta Braves very quietly dropped some bombshell injury news in the team's latest report on The Athletic. Somehow, Atlanta's best hitter over the last two seasons is dealing with a serious injury, and the organization failed to tell anyone.
Marcell Ozuna is dealing with some type of hip tear that is limiting his ability and could explain why the team has been so aggressive in replacing Ozuna on the bases. While the former outfielder has never been a speed demon, Atlanta has made a notably increased effort to take the veteran off the bases late in a game.
Ozuna talked about his hip being "shut down" and needing to keep battling to be able to stay in the lineup. In a season where everything that can go wrong seems to be, this is yet another addition to a long list. It does make Ozuna's performance thus far all the more impressive and perhaps explains a slight dip in production earlier in the season. Ozuna went through a two-week stretch where things appeared a bit off after a hot start.
"I’ve been kind of slow because I don’t want to rotate, because my hip is kind of shut down a little bit,” Ozuna said. “I had a tear (in the) right hip, so I just … keep battling. I’m trying to help my team. That’s the most important thing. I want to be in the lineup every single day, and do everything for my team."Marcell Ozuna
It is now fair to speculate if this regression was due to an injury that the team didn't make public. Regardless, Ozuna has now made it clear the level of injury he is dealing with, adding another to a long list of worries for Atlanta fans. Looking at the team's positioning in the National League, it is hard to hold out much hope that things are going to turn around.
The veteran hitter is on an expiring contract that could force the team to consider the possibility of a trade. Despite the injury, Ozuna remains incredibly productive and would have a huge market among contending teams. If Atlanta is unable to quickly turn its season around, this might be the path the team is forced to take.
Atlanta's lack of clarity on Ozuna's injury is surprising when you consider how openly the designated hitter answered this question; it almost seems that he wants the information out that he isn't playing fully healthy. No question, it is an eyebrow-raising quote that perfectly fits into the team's frustrating 2025 season.