History of Marcell Ozuna in Timeline

Marcell Ozuna Idelfonso, known as "the Big Bear," is a Dominican professional baseball player. He is currently the designated hitter and outfielder for the Atlanta Braves. He's also played for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. His MLB debut was in 2013 with the Marlins.

November 12, 1990: Birth of Marcell Ozuna

Marcell Ozuna was born on November 12, 1990, in the Dominican Republic.

1995: Braves Win World Series

In 1995, the Atlanta Braves won the World Series, their first title since 1995.

February 15, 2008: Signing with Marlins

On February 15, 2008, Marcell Ozuna officially signed with the Florida Marlins as an international free agent.

2008: Signing with the Marlins

Marcell Ozuna signed with the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent in 2008.

2009: Playing for GCL Marlins

Marcell Ozuna played for the GCL Marlins in 2009, hitting .313 with five home runs and 39 RBIs.

2010: Playing with Greensboro Grasshoppers

Marcell Ozuna started 2010 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers but suffered a wrist injury. He returned later in the season to play with Short Season Jamestown.

2011: Full Season with Greensboro

Marcell Ozuna spent the full 2011 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, improving his performance with 23 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.

November 20, 2012: Added to Marlins' 40-man Roster

On November 20, 2012, Marcell Ozuna was added to the Miami Marlins' 40-man roster.

April 29, 2013: Promotion to MLB

On April 29, 2013, Marcell Ozuna was promoted to the Major Leagues by the Marlins following an injury to Giancarlo Stanton. He was also named the Southern League's player of the week.

April 30, 2013: Major League Debut and First Hit

On April 30, 2013, Marcell Ozuna made his major league debut and recorded his first career hit against the New York Mets.

July 26, 2013: Season-Ending Injury

On July 26, 2013, Marcell Ozuna underwent season-ending thumb surgery due to an injury sustained while making a diving catch.

2013: Ranked 75th Best Prospect

Before the start of the 2013 season, Ozuna was ranked as the 75th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America.

2013: MLB Debut

Marcell Ozuna made his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins in 2013.

September 11, 2014: Four Consecutive Games with Home Runs

On September 11, 2014, Marcell Ozuna tied a Marlins franchise record by hitting home runs in four consecutive games.

July 5, 2015: Sent to AAA

On July 5, 2015, Marcell Ozuna was sent down to AAA by the Marlins after a slump in performance.

2016: Return to Marlins Roster

Despite receiving trade offers during the off-season, Marcell Ozuna returned to the Marlins' roster for the 2016 season.

2016: First All-Star Selection

Marcell Ozuna was selected for his first MLB All-Star game in 2016.

May 2017: Ozuna's Family

As of May 2017, Marcell Ozuna and his wife, Genesis Guzman, have three children.

December 14, 2017: Trade to St. Louis Cardinals

On December 14, 2017, Marcell Ozuna was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals from the Miami Marlins.

2017: NL Player of the Week

For the week of April 10-16, 2017, Marcell Ozuna was named NL Player of the Week following a strong batting performance.

2017: Breakout Season

In 2017, Marcell Ozuna had a breakout season, winning a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award. He also made the All-Star team and achieved high ranks in batting average, home runs and RBIs.

2017: All-Star Game Starter and Career Highs

In 2017, Ozuna started in the MLB All-Star Game and achieved career-high stats across multiple categories, including batting average, home runs and RBIs. He was also named NL Player of the Week for the week of September 18-24.

January 12, 2018: Contract with Cardinals

On January 12, 2018, Marcell Ozuna agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

June 2, 2018: 100th Career Home Run

On June 2, 2018, Marcell Ozuna hit his 100th career home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

July 30, 2018: First Walk-Off Home Run

On July 30, 2018, Marcell Ozuna hit his first walk-off home run against the Colorado Rockies.

June 29, 2019: Finger Injury

On June 29, 2019, Marcell Ozuna was placed on the injured list with a finger fracture.

2019: Twins Set Home Run Record

In 2019, the Minnesota Twins set a record for most home runs in a season, which was later tied by the Atlanta Braves in 2023.

2019: First Postseason Series

Marcell Ozuna played in his first career postseason series in 2019, participating in the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.

January 21, 2020: Signing with Atlanta Braves

On January 21, 2020, Marcell Ozuna signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves.

2020: NL Home Run and RBI Leader

Marcell Ozuna led the National League in both home runs and RBIs in 2020.

2020: Second Silver Slugger Award

Marcell Ozuna won his second Silver Slugger Award in 2020, the first ever awarded to a designated hitter in the National League. He also led the league in home runs, RBIs and total bases, and was top 3 for other statistics.

February 5, 2021: Ozuna Re-signs with Braves

On February 5, 2021, Marcell Ozuna re-signed with the Atlanta Braves on a four-year, $64 million contract.

May 29, 2021: Ozuna Arrested for Domestic Violence

On May 29, 2021, Marcell Ozuna was arrested and charged with aggravated assault by strangulation and battery against his wife. The charges were later dropped after he completed a diversion program. Consequently, he received a 20-game suspension from Major League Baseball.

August 19, 2022: Ozuna Arrested for DUI

On August 19, 2022, Marcell Ozuna was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after being observed driving erratically. He admitted to consuming "three or four" beers and refused a breath test, leading to his arrest.

2022: Ozuna's 2022 Season

During the 2022 season, Marcell Ozuna played in 124 games, hitting 23 home runs and maintaining a batting average of .226.

2023: Ozuna's Career-High Home Runs and Braves Record

In 2023, Ozuna hit a career-high 40 home runs, contributing to the Atlanta Braves tying the 2019 Minnesota Twins record for most home runs in a single season. His two home runs on October 1st were crucial to achieving this milestone.