Pablo José Ozuna (born August 25, 1974) is a
Dominican former professional baseball
utility player
In sports, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently. Sports in which the term is often used include association football, American football, baseball, rugby union, rugby league, softball, ice hockey, and water polo.
The ...
. During his
major league career, he played for the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The fran ...
(, ), the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fi ...
(), the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
(–), and the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League West, West division. Established in 1883 i ...
(). He is the cousin of current
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in ...
outfielder
Marcell Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna Idelfonso (born November 12, 1990), nicknamed "The Big Bear", is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Miami Marlins and St. Lou ...
.
Career
St. Louis Cardinals
Originally signed by the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
in , Ozuna spent two years in the Cardinal farm system before being traded with
Braden Looper and
Armando Almanza
Armando N. Almanza (born October 26, 1972) is an American former left-handed relief pitcher, who last played for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He also played for the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves. He was a hard- ...
to the Florida Marlins for
Édgar Rentería
Édgar Enrique Rentería Herazo (; born August 7, 1975), nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby", is a Colombian former professional baseball shortstop. He threw and batted right-handed. He played for the Florida Marlins, the St. Louis Cardinals, th ...
on December 14, .
Florida Marlins
Ozuna would spend four years with the Marlins organization before being traded again. This time, he was traded with
Charles Johnson,
Preston Wilson
Preston James Richard Wilson (born July 19, 1974) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played all or parts of ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1998 to 2007 for the New York Mets, Florida Marlins, Colorad ...
and
Vic Darensbourg
Victor Anthony Darensbourg (born November 13, 1970) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He made his MLB debut with the Florida Marlins in , and went on to play eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Vic played his high school basebal ...
to the Colorado Rockies for
Mike Hampton
Michael William Hampton, Jr. (born September 9, 1972) is an American former professional baseball player. Hampton played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a pitcher from 1993 through 2010. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, New ...
and
Juan Pierre
Juan D'Vaughn Pierre (born August 14, 1977) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2000–2013 for the Colorado Rockies, Florida/Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, C ...
on November 16, 2002. In 48 games with Florida, Ozuna had 21
hits
Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block
* ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998
* ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album s ...
in 71
at bat
In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens during their turn at bat, but a batt ...
s for a .296
batting average
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic.
Cricket
In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
.
Colorado Rockies
Ozuna spent one year with the Rockies, going 8-for-40 (.200) with 2 RBI in 17 games.
He was released on December 14, 2003.
Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies
On January 9, 2004, Ozuna signed with the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
as a minor league free agent.
On March 27, his contract was purchased by the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
.
He spent the entire season with the Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, in the ...
, batting .307 with six home runs, 76 RBI and 31 stolen bases in 126 games.
Chicago White Sox
Ozuna signed with the Chicago White Sox on January 19, . He appeared in a career high 70 games, and also had career highs with 203 at bats, 56 hits, and 11
RBI.
Ozuna also had 14
stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base to which they are not entitled and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe o ...
s, including a
steal of home on September 8.
On October 12, 2005, during Game 2 of the
ALCS
The American League Championship Series (ALCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the two winners of the American ...
,
A. J. Pierzynski advanced to first base on a controversial
dropped third strike
In baseball and softball, an uncaught third strike (sometimes referred to as dropped third strike or non-caught third strike) occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch for the third strike of a plate appearance. In Major League Base ...
call. Ozuna pinch ran for him, stealing second base on the second pitch of the at bat to
Joe Crede
Joseph Taylor Crede (pronounced CREE-dee, born April 26, 1978) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox (2000–2008) and the Minnesota Twins (2009). Crede was drafted ...
. Ozuna scored the game winning
run
Run(s) or RUN may refer to:
Places
* Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia
* Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant
People
* Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
on a
double
A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another.
Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to:
Film and television
* Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character
* ...
by Crede to end the controversial game. It was one of only two games Ozuna appeared in during the postseason as the White Sox won the
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the Worl ...
(the other being the night before).
Ozuna was brought back for and on May 3, 2006, he hit his first career
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
, a solo shot, to tie the game with two outs in the ninth inning against
Eddie Guardado
Edward Adrian Guardado (born October 2, 1970) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher and current bullpen coach. Guardado played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins (–, ), Seattle Mariners (–), Cincinnati Reds (–) ...
of the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion ...
. In the bottom of the 11th, Ozuna had another two-out hit, a bouncer up the middle that he stretched into a double. His heads up play allowed
Juan Uribe to bat in the winning run with a soft fly ball to short left center. Ozuna finished the 2006 season batting .328 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 79 games.
On December 5, 2006, Ozuna signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the White Sox to avoid arbitration. He later signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract extension with the team that included an option for the 2009 season on April 1, 2007. On May 27, , Ozuna fractured his right fibula and tore the deltoid ligament in his ankle in a game against the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home ve ...
. Though he managed to walk off the field on his own power, he did not return for the remainder of the season. In 27 games, Ozuna hit .244 with 3 RBI.
Ozuna began the 2008 season batting .281 with 6 RBI in 32 games.
Despite hitting .353 in June, he was designated for assignment on July 8, and was later released on July 16.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 20, 2008, Ozuna signed with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League West, West division. Established in 1883 i ...
for the remainder of the season. He made his debut with the team that day, where he was put in as a pinch-runner for
Andy LaRoche
Andrew Christian LaRoche (born September 13, 1983) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays.
L ...
after he singled in a run to make it a one-run game against the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...
in the top of the ninth with two out.
Matt Kemp
Matthew Ryan Kemp (born September 23, 1984) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He began his professional career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2003, and played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Dodgers fr ...
then doubled him home, tying the game. The Dodgers eventually won the game, and tied with Arizona for first place in the NL West.
On September 19, 2008, he hit his third career home run against in a 7–1 loss to the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yo ...
.
Philadelphia Phillies
On January 15, , Ozuna signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies, but began the season with the Phillies AAA minor league team,
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and are named in reference to pig iron, used in the ...
, where he batted .294 with 15 RBI in 51 games.
On June 11, he was suspended 50 games for violating the Major League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He was released on August 8, 2009.
Newark Bears
On July 9, , Ozuna signed a contract with the
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears were an American minor league professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They were a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and, later, the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. T ...
of the independent
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...
. He played in 28 games for the Bears, hitting .294 with a home run and 13 RBI.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ozuna, Pablo
1974 births
Living people
Calgary Cannons players
Chicago White Sox players
Colorado Rockies players
Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Canada
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States
Dominican Republic sportspeople in doping cases
Florida Marlins players
Johnson City Cardinals players
Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball infielders
Major League Baseball outfielders
Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
Newark Bears players
Peoria Chiefs players
Portland Sea Dogs players
Visalia Oaks players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons players
Tulsa Drillers players
Sportspeople from Santo Domingo
Estrellas Orientales players
Leones del Escogido players
Tigres del Licey players