The Pittsburgh Pirates released veteran designated hitter Marcell Ozuna on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, ending a disappointing one-year, $12 million experiment. Ozuna managed just an .203 batting average with eight home runs and 29 RBIs across 70 games, prompting the team to call up Triple-A standout Ronny Simon.
Marcell Ozuna’s Disastrous Ten-Month Run in Pittsburgh
When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, one-year, $12MM deal during the offseason, front-office executives hoped the veteran slugger would inject power into a lineup that lacked right-handed pop. Instead, the 35-year-old struggled from Opening Day onward.
Ozuna finished his tenure in Pittsburgh batting a career-worst .203 average and .612 OPS while striking out at a 28.6 percent clip. His offensive woes were immediate. He ended April hitting just .162 and never managed to secure consistent production, leading manager Don Kelly to scale back his playing time significantly through June and July.
The sharp decline represented a stark contrast to Ozuna’s recent production. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, the three-time All-Star averaged 40 home runs and 102 RBIs, even finishing fourth in National League Most Valuable Player voting in 2024. In Pittsburgh, however, the power vanished. He leaves the franchise with only eight home runs to his name and negative wins above replacement value, according to Baseball Reference data.
Wild Card Race Pressure Forces Front Office to Pivot
The decision to part ways with Ozuna arrived as the Pirates attempted to solidify their position in the National League postseason picture. Following an aggressive trade deadline where Pittsburgh added Luke Weaver, Kirby Yates, Lake Bachar, and Camilo Doval, the club sat three and a half games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot.
Carrying a struggling designated hitter became an unsustainable luxury for a roster dealing with significant injuries. The Pirates played without several key offensive contributors, including Oneil Cruz, Konnor Griffin, and Ryan O’Hearn. With O’Hearn facing at least six weeks on the sidelines due to a quad strain, management needed a roster spot to inject new life into the batting order.
Ronny Simon Earns Long-Awaited Call-Up from Indianapolis
To fill the vacancy created by Ozuna’s departure, the Pirates selected the contract of infielder and outfielder Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis. Simon brings a much-needed left-handed and switch-hitting spark, alongside defensive versatility and high-end speed.
The 26-year-old put together an impressive minor league campaign in Indianapolis, slashing .330/.419/.470 with seven home runs and 33 stolen bases in 40 attempts. Simon also demonstrated elite plate discipline, drawing walks at a 12 percent clip while keeping his strikeout rate down to 17.4 percent.
| Player | 2026 Batting Average | Home Runs | RBIs | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcell Ozuna | .203 | 8 | 29 | Designated Hitter |
| Ronny Simon (Triple-A) | .330 | 7 | 26 | Outfield / Infield |
Ozuna will clear release waivers and become an unrestricted free agent, eligible to sign with any ballclub for the prorated major league minimum. Meanwhile, the Pirates return to action aiming to climb back above the .500 threshold as Simon joins the active 26-man roster ahead of upcoming series play.
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