The Cardinals have gone without one of their top hitters, injured left fielder Marcell Ozuna, for over a month. The club has since grabbed a half-game lead in the National League Central, and now it’ll get Ozuna back as it works to hold off the rival Cubs and Brewers. The Cardinals are “likely” to activate Ozuna from the IL on Saturday, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak (via Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
Ozuna hasn’t played since June 28, when he suffered several finger fractures on his right hand in a base-running mishap. The Cardinals then recalled Tyler O’Neill from Triple-A Memphis to take Ozuna’s place. The 24-year-old O’Neill has done a decent job in the majors this season, having hit .279/.316/.434 (97 wRC+) with five home runs in 136 plate appearances, but a sure-to-fall .397 batting average on balls in play has buoyed his numbers. Furthermore, O’Neill has struck out in just under 34.0 percent of plate appearances and walked at a mere 5.1 percent clip.
No Cardinals outfielder has been as productive as Ozuna, who has slashed .259/.331/.515 (118 wRC+) and shown prodigious power (20 homers, .256 ISO) across 326 trips to the plate. Injury aside, this has been a strong platform season for Ozuna, a pending free agent who ranks as one of the best hitters scheduled to reach the open market in a few months. In the meantime, he’ll continue trying to make a case for a sizable contract while attempting to help the Cardinals to the postseason.
Let’s Goo!!!
Yes. Let’s go Cards.
Maybe this will help them get into first place.
They already are in first in the NL Central. It says it in the article.
Stay in first place.
*stay
FTFY
Imagine Ozuna signing with Colorado! Him healthy would be 60 HRs
If he has a QO attached that will like double the chances they sign him.
so who goes down, Revelo?
Ravelo
Ravioli
Ravelo hitting a buck 58!!
This is better than a big trade.
God I hope that is sarcasm.
Ozuna will definitely receive a QO but I doubt the Cards will try to extend him.
I hope Rendon is available and the Cards sign him this off season.
did just fine without ozuna
Just think how much better they will be with him then
38-40 with him. 20-10 without. just think…
Don’t forget Goldy wasn’t hitting a lick before the AS break. That’s not Ozuna’s fault. He was the only offense we had for a few months.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Correlation does not imply causation.
Anyone with two eyes can see that a healthy Ozuna makes them a better team
Funny how they have played better without Carpenter, Molina and Ozuna. 3 selfish players.
This web site is much better without you nicker. Your a selfish poster!
Just the facts. Just the facts. Get back to grazing. There’s a spot of grass in CF you missed.
Themed, You’re. 4th grade English class.
Huh? I couldn’t understand your 3rd grade English.
That’s such a lame response, as usual.
Molina is definitely not a selfish player. Carpenter perhaps somewhat offensively only, and Ozuna does have a selfish streak, but he plays hard, and every day. So for someone who maintains he is never wrong, you strike out again.
I agree on the carpenter part. Edman and Munoz held the fort down pretty darn good.
I think Wieters has done fine too. He could start on a lot of teams.
Wow what an awesome dialogue Nicker. I bet no one else would have ever thought of that one.
He perhaps should start on this team
Found the Cubs fan
You must be new
Amen to that Stan Lee!!!
Go Cards!
Cards are 20-10 when he does NOT PLAY.
Got it. You’ve posted this 3 times. Now go away and grumble about Mozaliak in your moms basement.
Cards were literally 20-10 at the beginning of the season when he did play.
Yeah, but Ozuna or later the averages will catch up to them.
Oh joy. The mom’s basement joke.
Wow he’s a good player. Imagine if a team had him, Yelich, and Giancarlo Stanton in the same outfield. Imagine that.
Lolz