The Big Bear: Why Is No One Talking About Marcell Ozuna?

When we talk about the elite hitters in baseball, certain names come up like clockwork — Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Freddie Freeman. But somehow, one of the most productive hitters in the game over the last two seasons continues to fly under the radar: Marcell Ozuna.

From May 1, 2023 through April 21, 2025, Ozuna has not just been good — he’s been borderline elite, consistently carrying the Braves’ offense, especially during a 2024 campaign where the lineup around him sputtered more often than not. In fact, it’s fair to argue that Ozuna was the single reason Atlanta made the playoffs in 2024 at all. He was the one constant in an otherwise disappointing season.

Let’s look at the numbers that back this up.

Two Seasons of Elite Production

Across the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons, Ozuna played in 306 of a possible 324 games — an impressive show of durability. In that span, he slashed:

.290 AVG / .363 OBP / .557 SLG / .920 OPS
79 home runs
204 RBIs
328 hits
60 doubles
131 walks

Those are the kind of numbers you expect from an MVP finalist — and yet, somehow, Ozuna wasn’t even named among the finalists for the 2024 National League MVP. A travesty, considering he put up a .302 batting average, 39 home runs, and a .925 OPS while dragging a streaky Braves lineup into the postseason.

Among the Best in Baseball

If you stack up Ozuna’s numbers from May 1, 2023 to April 21, 2025, it becomes obvious: he belongs in the same conversation as the league’s top-tier sluggers.

His 81 home runs in that span rank 4th in Major League Baseball, behind only Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber.
His 211 RBIs? Good enough for 6th in MLB.
His 343 hits rank 2nd in all of baseball, behind only Bobby Witt Jr.
His OPS marks of .905 (2023) and .925 (2024) put him firmly in elite territory.

What makes this more impressive is that he did it without the protection in the lineup that other stars enjoy. For stretches of the 2024 season, Ozuna was the only reliable bat in the Braves’ order. With injuries, regressions, and inconsistency surrounding him, he kept hitting — and hitting with authority.

A Reinvented Hitter

What’s perhaps most impressive about Ozuna’s resurgence is that it didn’t come out of nowhere — it came through adjustments. His walks increased from 57 in 2023 to 74 in 2024, showing improved plate discipline. His batting average jumped from .274 (.297 after May 1) to .302. He made more consistent contact while maintaining his power.

This isn’t a flash-in-the-pan streak. This is a veteran hitter who has retooled and reasserted himself as one of the most dangerous hitters in the league.

The 2025 Outlook

So far in 2025, Ozuna is continuing his MVP calibar play, despite Atlanta’s slow start. He’s hitting .323 with 4 homers and 9 RBIs. He’s walked 23 times in just 20 games, and his 1.030 OPS is good for the 8th-best in Major League Baseball.

Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About This?

That’s the real question. Maybe it’s because Ozuna isn’t the flashiest name in the game. Maybe it’s because the Braves underwhelmed in 2024. But ignoring what Ozuna has done is a disservice to one of baseball’s most productive bats over the past two calendar years.

He doesn’t need the spotlight — but he certainly deserves it.

Final Word

Marcell Ozuna has been one of the best hitters in baseball since May 2023. He’s done it with power, consistency, and clutch hitting. He carried a struggling Braves team when nobody else could. And yet — no MVP finalist nod in 2024?

It’s time the baseball world gave Ozuna the credit he’s earned. Because the numbers don’t lie: he’s been elite.