Ozuna hoping to turn early slump into big season -- just like he did in '23

PITTSBURGH -- As the Pirates cycle into the home clubhouse at PNC Park in the hours leading up to first pitch, a continuous loop of game film is displayed on the televisions hung up in the center of the room, showcasing past highlights from each player.

For some Pirates hitters, the video could be used to get a read on opposing pitchers they’re about to face. In Marcell Ozuna's case, it may have helped visualize a time when things were going much better at the plate.

After starting the season with just three hits in his first 43 at-bats (.070), Ozuna broke through with a statement game at the plate Tuesday night in Pittsburgh’s 5-4 loss to the Nationals. Ozuna went 2-for-4 with an RBI double.

It was reminiscent of a similar slump he faced just a few years back.

Early in 2023, Ozuna watched his batting average dip all the way down to .071 following what was by far the poorest start of his career. Yet he went on to post one of the best seasons of his career, mashing 40 home runs and racking up 100 RBIs for Atlanta. That type of production may seem a bit unrealistic for the 35-year-old DH, but the Pirates hope they can reclaim at least some of that fire from his previous stop. It’s certainly what they had in mind when they signed Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract in February.

“In 2023, that was the most struggling slump I’ve had,” Ozuna recalled. “It was like 100-something at-bats [and] a couple hits. Not enough. Coming back from that time was amazing. Now, I’ve got the confidence that it was the same slump. I know what I’ve got to do. Give myself a breath and come every day with the same energy. I come in and grind and do my best.”

Pirates fans hope Tuesday night will be the game in which he finally turns the corner.

After a night off on Monday, Ozuna collected his fourth hit of the season with an opposite-field single down the right-field line in the second inning against Miles Mikolas. In the fourth inning, following walks to Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds, Ozuna drove in his first run of the season with a sharply hit double, this time down the left-field line.

“That was good because it was [with] two strikes,” Ozuna said. “Every time [I have] two strikes with a man on base, I try to get the momentum of the game.”

Ozuna hit the ball to three different parts of the field. Even in his eighth inning at-bat in which he was retired on a sprawling catch by left fielder Daylen Lile in the left-center-field gap, the ball came off Ozuna's bat at 100 mph, per Statcast.

“I come here every day trying to get my swing back, trying to get my swing path and everything,” Ozuna said. “Then, I go out there and do [it] for my team and my coach, and do my best for myself and my family.”

Pirates manager Don Kelly has continued to show an unwavering confidence that an early season turnaround is coming. He’s seen the ability of his DH firsthand from his time playing with Ozuna in Miami from 2015-16.

Ozuna isn't the only Pirates hitter who has struggled to start the season. Catcher Joey Bart, who entered the game hitting .105 (2-for-19), drilled a home run in the fifth inning to inch the Pirates closer in their comeback bid. One inning later, Ozuna reached base for a third time on an error by third baseman Jorbit Vivas.

“They’ve been working so hard,” Kelly said. “We’ve talked about it with Ozuna. I mean, he hit that ball down the line to the third baseman really, really well, too, and ended up getting on base. I thought we had a really good approach. Again, really good swings. … It just didn't turn into as many runs as it did last night.”

Even in his 14th big league season, the bat speed is still there for Ozuna, ranking in the 70th percentile in the Majors. As it stands, Ozuna is just two years removed from batting .302 with 39 home runs and 104 RBIs en route to being a finalist for the NL Hank Aaron Award.

“He’s been swinging the bat better,” Kelly said. “He’s been working hard, like we’ve talked about, and hopefully, it's a catalyst for him.”