MILWAUKEE -- The Pirates waited as long as they could.
But when Marcell Ozuna’s bat didn’t come around, despite a hefty price tag, they had to move on, releasing the designated hitter Wednesday and ending a frustrating season after the designated hitter never got on track in Pittsburgh.
Added this offseason for $12 million, Ozuna, 35, 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%).
“We believed he could make a contribution to our team with the bat and also inside our clubhouse with our players around how he approaches his at-bats,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday at American Family Field. “We just never got there on the first part. The part on the field just didn't work out. We'll take responsibility for that. We just never got there.”
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 led the International League in batting average and hits, ranked second in doubles and fifth in on-base percentage (.419).
“He’s been swinging the bat extremely well down in Triple-A,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “The speed that he provides off the bench, we can use to help us win.”
Simon, who can play all three outfield spots, went 7 for 30 (.233) with a double, two RBIs, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in eight games with the Pirates last season before suffering a dislocated shoulder on Aug. 29, ending his season.
Speaking pregame, the 26-year-old Simon said 2025 — his first season in the big leagues — taught him a ton about controlling what he can control and not trying to do too much. He credited Pirates coaches, teammates and the team’s medical staff for helping him get healthy and improve.
“I’ve grown up a lot since last year,” said Simon, who hit safely in 74 of his 99 Minor League games this season, reaching safely in 85 of those. “I’m doing good right now. I want to keep working. I’m here for whatever they need. I’m trying to be consistent in the outfield, so I can stay here for a long time.”
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, he 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.
“Think the world of [Ozuna],” Kelly said. “I know he didn’t have the season he would like. The thing that stood out to me is the way that he continued to work and be a great teammate, his positivity in the clubhouse and how he continued to lead other guys.
“Just got to a point where we felt like we needed to make a move to open up the DH spot to rotate guys and get a little more versatility.”
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.
They dropped even more in 2026, but Ozuna remained a consummate pro.
“We were all incredibly impressed with the teammate that he kept being right up until [Tuesday],” Cherington said. “It's not easy for a player of that stature to go through a season like this where you're not performing, you start not playing. He never brought anyone else down.
“I’ve seen it go the other way often. Really respect him for that, but ultimately we got to a point where we felt like the roster would just work better for us with a different player in that spot, someone who could do some different things.”
Also on Wednesday, the Pirates ended the rehab assignment of Evan Sisk and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list. To make room for Sisk, the Pirates optioned Wilber Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Sisk has posted a 2.23 ERA in 32 Major League games, striking out 43 in 36 1/3 innings. He has not pitched since June 29 at Philadelphia before being placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation.
“As a player, you want to get back as soon as possible,” Sisk said. “But I wanted to focus on getting healthy and getting to a spot where I could do my job the way I wanted to.”
Lastly, the Pirates ended the rehab assignment of Chris Devenski (undisclosed illness) and outrighted him to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Cruz close
Cherington was asked about a timeline for Oneil Cruz (left hand fractures), who’s eligible to come off the 60-day injured list Friday. There’s no specific date or timeline, Cherington said, “but I think we’re getting closer all the time.”
He added: “We're waiting for maybe a little bit more information from him, but we're anticipating it happening soon.”
As for what information the Pirates need, Cherington said it’s volume of at-bats.
“I don't know how many; that’s still to be determined,” Cherington said. “But I think it's some volume of at-bats where he’s seeing live pitching and to make sure his hand is responding to those at bats.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.