The Pittsburgh Pirates released designated hitter Marcell Ozuna on Wednesday, cutting ties with their major offseason acquisition after a disastrous start. Ozuna batted just .203 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs over 70 games, prompting the club to call up infielder Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are absorbing a significant financial and offensive loss by cutting bait on their most prominent winter addition.
Expectations ran high when the Pirates brought in the three-time All-Star to serve as a right-handed middle-of-the-order anchor, particularly after missing out on targets like Kyle Schwarber. Instead, the tenure devolved into a prolonged offensive slump.
Disastrous Numbers and a Dwindling Role at PNC Park
Ozuna never found a rhythm in Pittsburgh, struggling mightily at PNC Park, a venue historically difficult for right-handed hitters. Over 70 games and 280 plate appearances this season, he posted a career-worst .203 batting average alongside a .286 on-base percentage and a .327 slugging mark. His .612 OPS ranked among the worst in the National League for players with at least 250 plate appearances.
The power production that defined his recent seasons with the Atlanta Braves—where he launched 40 home runs in 2023 and 39 in 2024—evaporated in Pennsylvania. Ozuna managed only eight home runs and 29 RBIs while striking out at a career-worst 28.6 percent clip. According to Baseball Reference, his performance yielded a -1.0 wins above replacement total.
Manager Don Kelly steadily reduced his playing time as the calendar advanced. Ozuna appeared in just 11 games in June and 12 in July, logging a mere 30 plate appearances since the All-Star break. While the club lauded his clubhouse presence, the team went 26-40 in games where Ozuna started in the lineup.
Roster Crunch and the Push for Wild Card Ground
The transaction coincided with the promotion of versatile infielder and outfielder Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates selected Simon’s contract late Tuesday night, necessitating an immediate opening on both the 40-man and active rosters.
Simon arrives in the majors carrying a scorching .330 batting average, .419 on-base percentage, and .470 slugging mark across 428 plate appearances in Triple-A. The switch-hitter has also swatted seven home runs and gone 33-for-40 in stolen base attempts while posting a 1.057 OPS against left-handed pitching.
The roster shake-up arrives as Pittsburgh navigates the stretch run of the season. Sitting at 57-58, the club stands 3 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot in the National League, with FanGraphs giving them a 20.7 percent chance to reach the postseason. Although the front office added bullpen arms like Luke Weaver, Kirby Yates, Lake Bachar, and Camilo Doval before the trade deadline, the team’s designated hitter production remained an anchor on the lineup.
Prior to Ozuna’s release, Pirates designated hitters collectively batted .223/.293/.363, generating a 79 wRC+ that ranked as the fourth-worst mark in Major League Baseball. The team’s offense has absorbed multiple injuries to key bats, playing without Oneil Cruz (broken fingers), Konnor Griffin (torn tendon in his hand), and Ryan O’Hearn (quad strain), leaving manager Don Kelly to cycle alternatives like Bryan Reynolds and Jhostynxon Garcia through the DH role.
Next Steps in the Free Agent Market
With the trade deadline passed, releasing Ozuna was the only mechanism available for the Pirates to sever ties. He will clear release waivers and become an unrestricted free agent, eligible to sign with any major league club for a prorated minimum salary.
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