MILWAUKEE -- The Pirates have released Marcell Ozuna, a source confirmed on Wednesday, ending a frustrating season for both sides after the designated hitter never got on track in Pittsburgh.
Signed this offseason for $12 million, Ozuna hit .203 with a .612 OPS in 70 games. The right-handed hitter contributed seven doubles, eight home runs and 29 RBIs while striking out 80 times in 280 plate appearances (28.6%).
Taking Ozuna’s place on the roster will be outfielder/utility man Ronny Simon, who’s been having a tremendous season at Triple-A Indianapolis, hitting .330 with an .889 OPS in 99 games.
The switch-hitting Simon, an energy player who’s done it all at the plate this season, has produced 26 doubles, seven home runs, 63 RBIs, 33 steals and 54 runs scored.
Simon’s batting average leads the International League, while he extended his recent on-base streak to 14 games with a two-hit night Saturday at Louisville.
During that time, Simon is hitting .500 (22 for 44) with a 1.213 OPS. Seven of those games have included multiple hits. Simon hit .407 in July with eight doubles, one home run, 21 RBIs, 13 walks, 14 steals and a 1.015 OPS in 23 games.
Simon has hit safely in 74 of his 99 games this season, reaching safely in 85 of those and multiple times in 61.
Ozuna last played in a game on Saturday, Aug. 1, going 1 for 4 with a double in Cincinnati. Prior to that, Ozuna had two hits in 16 at-bats from July 22-29 and a .184 average over his past 15 games.
While the Pirates have gone 28-42 in games where Ozuna plays — obviously a problem — the 35-year-old has not let it affect his relationships with teammates.
Ozuna has been a voice of positivity and a mentor of varying degrees to Oneil Cruz, Esmerlyn Valdez and Konnor Griffin, though everyone involved understands the production has lacked.
Back in February, the Pirates believed Ozuna could rediscover the player who accumulated 7.8 wins above replacement (Baseball Reference) with the Braves from 2023-24, the three-time All-Star who had two top-20 finishes in MVP voting.
As recently as 2024, Ozuna hit .302 and had a .925 OPS that included 39 homers. He drove in 100 or more runs for a second consecutive season. But last season, Ozuna saw his numbers drop to .232, a .756 OPS, 21 homers and 68 RBIs.
The bet that Ozuna didn’t work out, and with the Pirates experiencing an extended offensive downturn — they’re 19th in runs since the All-Star break with 68 — they’re apparently interested in giving someone else a chance.
This story will be updated.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.