The Pittsburgh Pirates are moving on from one of their major offseason acquisitions.
Broadcaster Mike Rodriguez reported Aug. 5 that the team has released designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who signed a one-year deal worth $12 million in February. The two sides had a mutual option for 2027.
Ozuna, a 14-year MLB veteran, consistently struggled at the plate this season, hitting .203 with eight home runs, 29 RBI and a .612 OPS in 70 games. He became a weak point for an offense that’s become one of the best in baseball. The Pirates enter action Wednesday with the MLB lead in hits at 1,027, and they rank third in runs scored (584) behind just the Washington Nationals (610) and Chicago Cubs (585.)
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Accompanying offseason additions by GM Ben Cherington have been a major reason for the offensive surge. Second baseman Brandon Lowe was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and has hit 23 homers so far this season. Injured first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn has added 17 blasts after signing a two-year deal.
Hopes were high that Ozuna could perform similarly. He hit 39 homers and earned an All-Star nod with the Atlanta Braves in 2024 and was still a reliable hitter in 2025, when he hit 21 homers and posted a .756 OPS. However, his numbers improved only modestly from a .181 batting average in April, and he’d skidded to a .216 mark in July.
In the corresponding roster move, outfielder Ronny Simon is expected to be promoted from Class AAA Indianapolis. He’s performed well in the minors this season, hitting .330 with seven homers, 53 RBIs and an .889 OPS.
The Pirates enter Aug. 5 3.5 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the National League’s final wild-card playoff spot. They have not reached the MLB postseason since 2015 and have not posted a winning record since 2018.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pittsburgh Pirates release DH Marcell Ozuna amid offensive struggles
