Marcell Ozuna

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ozuna and the second or maternal family name is Idelfonso.
Marcell Ozuna

Ozuna batting for the Jupiter Hammerheads in 2012
Miami Marlins – No. 13
Center fielder
Born: ( 1990-11-12) November 12, 1990
Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 30, 2013, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through May 3, 2016)
Batting average .262
Home runs 41
Runs batted in 174
Teams

Marcell Ozuna Idelfonso (born November 12, 1990) is a Dominican professional baseball center fielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2013.

Early life and family

Marcell Ozuna Idelfonso was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[1] His father is a former painter and his mother is a housekeeper. He has one brother and two sisters.[2] He is the cousin of former MLB player Pablo Ozuna.[3][4]

Career

Minor League career

On February 15, 2008, Ozuna was signed by the Florida Marlins as a non-drafted free agent. He played for the DSL Marlins that year, where in 63 games, he hit .279 with 6 HR and 43 RBI and 8 SB.[1] In 2009, he played for the GCL Marlins, where in 55 games, he hit .313 with 5 HR and 39 RBI.[1]

Ozuna began 2010 with Single-A Greensboro, but was sidelined after 6 appearances with an injured wrist. He returned in June with Short Season Jamestown, where he finished the season.[3] In 74 total games, he hit .258 with 22 HR and 62 RBI. Ozuna spent 2011 with Greensboro, where in 131 games, he hit .266 with 23 HR, 71 RBI and 17 SB.[1]

Ozuna was promoted to A-Advanced Jupiter for the 2012 season, where in 129 games, he hit .266 with 24 HR and 95 RBI.[1] That year, he led the Florida State League in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, and total bases. Ozuna was added to the Marlins' 40-man roster on November 20, 2012.[5] Baseball America rated Ozuna the 75th best prospect in baseball prior to the 2013 season.[6]

Ozuna opened 2013 with Jupiter, but after 4 games, he was promoted to Double-A Jacksonville.[1] Ozuna was named the Southern League's player of the week on April 29, 2013.[7] That same day, the Marlins promoted Ozuna to the major leagues following an injury to Giancarlo Stanton.[6][8]

Major League career

On April 30, Ozuna made his major league debut, and recorded his first career hit, a single off Jeremy Hefner of the New York Mets. He hit his first career home run (as well as his first RBI and run scored), a solo home run, off Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies, in his fifth game. Ozuna was used as the starting right fielder in Stanton's absence. When Stanton returned, Ozuna became the starting center fielder. On July 22, Ozuna was optioned back to Jacksonville.[9] Instead of joining Jacksonville, Ozuna was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a ligament tear and avulsion fracture in his left thumb, which he injured while making a diving catch.[10] On July 26, 2013, he underwent season-ending thumb surgery.[11]

In 2014 Ozuna played a total of 153 games for the Marlins, batting .269 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs.[1] On September 12, 2014, he tied a franchise record with home runs in four consecutive games.[12]

On July 5, 2015, Ozuna was sent down to AAA after going hitless in 9 of 10 games, dipping his average to .249 on the season.[13] After playing 33 games and batting .333 with 5 home runs and 11 RBIs, he returned to the Marlins to complete the 2015 season, batting .278 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI.[14] During the off-season the Marlins received several offers for him from other teams, but he was back on the roster for the 2016 season and inserted in the number-two spot in the lineup.[14]

Personal life

Ozuna is married to the former Genesis Guzman.[15] They were expecting their first child in late 2014.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Marcell Ozuna, OF, Marlins". Baseball America. 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ Capozzi, Joe (May 6, 2013). "Rookie Marcell Ozuna could shake up Miami Marlins' outfield if he maintains success". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Sickels, John (May 1, 2013). "Prospect of the Day: Marcell Ozuna, OF, Miami Marlins". Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ Weisberger, Jed (September 6, 2010). "New York-Penn League playoff preview". Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Marlins add Marcell Ozuna, three others to 40-man roster". Miami Marlins. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Marlins place Giancarlo Stanton on DL, call up prospect Marcell Ozuna". HardballTalk. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  7. ↑ Elliott, Jeff (April 30, 2013). "Suns' Marcell Ozuna promoted to Marlins". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Giancarlo Stanton to disabled list after straining right hamstring in 10th". Miami Marlins. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  9. ↑ Jong, Michael (July 23, 2013). "Miami Marlins news: Marlins promote prospect outfielders Christian Yelich, Jake Marisnick". Fish Stripes.
  10. ↑ Rodriguez, Juan C. (July 25, 2013). "Torn thumb ligament likely shelves Ozuna for season". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  11. ↑ Frisaro, Joe (July 26, 2013). "Ozuna has surgery; winter ball might be next". MLB.com. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  12. ↑ Rodriguez, Juan C. (September 12, 2014). "Miami Marlins: Marcell Ozuna stays hot, extends hitting streak to nine". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Marlins option Marcell Ozuna to Triple-A". HardballTalk. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Fernandez, Andre C. (March 12, 2016). "Marcell Ozuna plans to make most of 'new opportunity' with Miami Marlins". The Miami Herald. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Baseball Wives and Girlfriends: Miami Marlins". MLB Baseball Wives. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  16. ↑ De Nicola, Christina (June 15, 2014). "Father's Day has new meaning to Marlins set to become first-time dads". Fox Sports. Retrieved April 26, 2016.

External links

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