by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3:09 pm ET) With a .304 batting average in his first 79 at-bats, the Marlins have to be pleased with Marcell Ozuna's first month in the majors. Even with a potentially crowded outfield in the next few weeks, the Marlins seem committed to keeping the 22-year-old in the majors as long as he can hack it, regardless of any arbitration-related issues.
"If [Ozuna] wants to make the decision difficult for us, have at it," 'President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest told the Sun-Sentinel Thursday. "If you're productive and doing the job, I don't see any reason why people can't stay. Now, people are going to say, 'Well, he's going to be Super Two.' Sure, we look at all that. I'm not going to say we don't because it matters. The other 29 teams do as well. If a player is doing it, he's going to make the decision tough for you.
Ozuna is currently playing right field, the position that injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton will fill when he gets healthy. With top prospect Christian Yelich pushing for a promotion from Double-A Jacksonville, the Marlins will have a crowded outfield on their hands sometime in June. According to two scouts, the Marlins' best defensive alignment in the outfield would include Ozuna in center field, a position he has yet to man in the majors after 38 games in the minors.
Marcell Ozuna provides all the offense in win
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) Rookie outfielder Marcell Ozuna hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the sixth inning for the Marlins, which turned out to be the game-winning hit in a 2-1 victory Sunday against the Diamondbacks. Ozuna has managed two multi-RBI game through 18 appearances, which account for five of his eight RBI.
Ozuna has hit safely in five straight games, but he's batting just .278 (5 for 18) with one triple and three RBI in that span.
"That kid, the pressure of any situation doesn’t bother him," manager Mike Redmond said, per the Sun-Sentinel. "He’s learned so much up here. Early in the game he was really aggressive, swinging early in the count. [Hitting coach] Tino [Martinez] and myself talked to him about trying to work counts and get a little bit deeper into counts and try and get a little bit better pitch to hit. That was a great at-bat. He got a good pitch up in the zone and made him pay."
Marcell Ozuna comes up big late
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/16/2013) Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna looked to be headed to another hitless night Thursday against the Reds, especially as fireballing closer Aroldis Chapman took the mound with a one-run lead. Ozuna looked at a pair of balls from Chapman and then drove a game-tying triple to left field with two outs.
Ozuna finished the game 1 for 3, with a sacrifice bunt as well as the RBI triple. The Marlins fell, 5-3. He is now batting .298 15 games into his rookie campaign.
Marcell Ozuna reaches base five times vs. Phillies
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/5/2013) Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna continues to make a solid impression as he recorded a career-high four hits and reached base five times during Sunday's series finale against the Phillies.
Ozuna doubled in two runs in the first, reached on an infield single in the fourth, singled in another run in the sixth and doubled in the eighth. He also drew a walk and finished 4 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI in a 14-2 victory.
Ozuna has hit safely in his first six games in the majors -- the second-longest streak to begin a career with the Marlins. He has gone 10 for 23 with a home run and four RBI. His 10 hits over through six games are the most ever by a rookie in franchise history.
Assessing Marcell Ozuna's hot start
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/4/2013) The Marlins' youth movement appears to have found another solid player, as outfielder Marcell Ozuna has proved himself ready for the majors in his first five games. The 22-year-old has a .389 batting average with at least a hit in each game. Let's take a look at his resume to see if the Marlins have a star in the making.
Ozuna's biggest strength as a prospect has been his power, as he had at least 20 home runs in each of his last three seasons. He is impressing with his plate discipline in his early major-league action, which is the first place where the eyebrows go up. After striking out in at least 21.5 percent of his at plate appearances in his previous four minor-league seasons, Ozuna has struck out in 10.5 percent of his at-bats in the big leagues.
Ozuna is a solid young talent who entered the season as Baseball America's No. 75 prospect, but he is also probably being rushed at the major-league level. He projects as a big-time power hitter down the road, but Ozuna could get exposed after this nice early start.
I would not run out to grab him just yet in yearly Fantasy formats. The Marlins will probably ride him even when he begins to take his lumps because that is what they do. But he remains more of a keeper/dynasty option until we get a bigger sample size.
Marcell Ozuna unleashes first MLB home run
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/4/2013) Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna uncorked his first major-league home run during Saturday's contest against the Phillies.
Ozuna took starter Cole Hamels deep for a solo home run in the second inning. He finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI in a 2-0 victory.
Ozuna has recorded a hit in each of his first five games since his promotion from Double-A Jacksonville. He is hitting .389 (7 for 18) over that span.
Marcell Ozuna gets second straight start
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna will start his second straight game Wednesday.
Ozuna had one hit in his major-league debut Tuesday. He'll bat fifth during Wednesday's game against Mets starter Dillon Gee. Ozuna was hitting .333/.383/.810 in 42 at-bats in Triple-A this year. He should get playing time as long as Giancarlo Stanton is on the disabled list.
Not high on Marcell Ozuna
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/30/2013) The Marlins opted to go with prospect Marcell Ozuna over uber-prospect Christian Yelich with Giancarlo Stanton on the DL. That's their prerogative.
But as a Fantasy owner, I'd be much more excited if they had gone the Yelich route. Baseball America did rank Ozuna 75th among all prospects coming into the season, but more because of his tools than his production. As a 22-year-old with plate discipline issues who hit only .266 at Class A last year, he's likely to struggle regardless of what kind of start he got off to at Double-A Jacksonville.
He may run into a few home runs just because of his raw power, but ultimately, I think the Marlins will want to swap him out for Yelich, who appeared to be the more major league-ready of the two with a .364 batting average and 1.269 OPS in 44 spring at-bats. And it may happen even before Stanton returns.
Marcell Ozuna bats sixth in MLB debut
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Marlins rookie outfielder Marcell Ozuna was immediately placed in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Mets following his promotion from Double-A Jacksonville. Ozuna started in right field and hit sixth behind center fielder Justin Ruggiano.
Ozuna is expected to see the bulk of playing time in right field with Giancarlo Stanton on the disabled list.
"We just saw him play at Double-A. He’s looked good," Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said, per The Palm Beach Post. "Defensively, he’s very good. We have a choice of outfielders, but right now, Marcell is the guy."
Marlins recall Marcell Ozuna to provide 'spark'
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna was promoted to the majors late Monday night in the wake of Giancarlo Stanton's hamstring injury, despite Ozuna having played in just 14 games this season. Ozuna got off to a late start because he suffered a fractured left hand this spring.
However, Ozuna appeared to be more in tune with his swing than fellow Double-A Jacksonville outfielder Christian Yelich, who is widely regarded as the Marlins' top prospect after Jose Fernandez's early season promotion to the majors. Ozuna was batting .333 (14 for 42) with one triple, three doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI in 10 games for Jacksonville.
Ozuna is considered a top 10 prospect in the Marlins' organization by Baseball America (No. 5) and MLB.com (No. 6).
"Let him go out there and (hack) away and see what he does," manager Mike Redmond said, per the Sun-Sentinel. "Ozuna is an exciting player. Hopefully he'll come up and provide a spark."
Marcell Ozuna, Brand Hand recalled for Marlins
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) The Marlins announced on Monday that Marcell Ozuna and Brad Hand will be recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.
Marcell Ozuna makes quick progress
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna joined the lineup for Double-A Jacksonville on Saturday for the first time this season after overcoming a wrist injury he suffered in spring training. Ozuna was sidelined for nearly a month due to a fractured left wrist, but he appeared in four games with Class A Jupiter earlier this week during the final part of his rehab.
The 22-year-old who is considered Miami's third-best outfield prospect by MLB.com amassed 24 homers and 95 RBI in a full season with Jupiter last year -- his third minor-league campaign with at least 20 home runs. Ozuna could make his MLB debut as soon as 2014.
Marcell Ozuna still a few weeks away
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/3/2013) Marlins vice president of player development Marty Scott said outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna might be out three more weeks while he recovers from a fractured left wrist, according to MLB.com. Ozuna sustained the injury crashing into a fence in late March.
Ozuna is expected to open the season at Double-A Jacksonville when he's recovered from his wrist injury.
Marcell Ozuna slips off radar
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) I'm disappointed to see Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna sidelined 4-6 weeks with a fractured left hand. While Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick steal all the attention in the Marlins' farm system among the team's outfield prospects, Ozuna in my eyes shouldn't be a prospect overlooked.
He's managed three straight seasons of 20-plus homers in the minors and is slugging .481 in 452 career games. He strikes out a lot like many power prospects, but prior to getting hurt I felt like he could be a player that might force his way into the majors this season. Now, I'm not so sure since Ozuna is getting a late start.
I still like Ozuna as a long-term Fantasy keeper, but he's sort of off the radar right now for seasonal-league owners.
Marlins lose Marcell Ozuna to broken hand
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/23/2013) Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna will miss the start of the season after suffering a broken bone in his left hand when he crashed into a chain-link fence chasing a fly ball earlier this week. Ozuna is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after X-rays revealed a hairline fracture at the base of the fourth metacarpal of his left (non-throwing) hand near the wrist.
"He's getting ice and treatment, and doing all the things he can physically do to stay in shape," Miami vice president of player development Marty Scott told the Sun Sentinel.
Ozuna, considered the No. 5 overall prospect in the organization, went 4 for 11 during Grapefruit League play before being optioned to Double-A Jacksonville on March 11.
Roster moves continue for Marlins
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/11/2013) The Miami Marlins made their second wave of roster cuts this spring and announced the following moves: pitchers Alex Sanabia and Brad Hand -- who were both in the mix for the fifth spot in the rotation -- were optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. Outfielder Kyle Jensen and pitcher Evan Reed were also sent to New Orleans. The team optioned pitchers Sam Dyson and Edgar Olmos and outfielder Marcell Ozuna to Double-A Jacksonville. Pitcher Jordan Smith and catcher Wilfredo Gimenez were re-assigned to the minor-league camp.
Ozuna showcases power potential
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/10/2013) Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna hit the first spring homer of his career Sunday against the Braves. Ozuna parked a two-out, three-run homer off Braves veteran Tim Hudson in the first inning. Ozuna finished 2 for 4 with two runs and one double, which was also the first spring double of his career. Ozuna is batting .364 (4 for 11) with four RBI in seven spring games.
