Marcell Ozuna, an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, was detained and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol early Friday morning.
Before the game against the Houston Astros, Ozuna spoke for 18 seconds with the media. He made a statement, but no questions were asked.
“I let my team down,” he remarked. “I have let down my family. I have nothing further to say. This is a legal issue.” Ozuna was arrested for the second time in as many years. The 29th of May, 2021, he was arrested on allegations of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police allegedly witnessed him assaulting his wife. After completing a pre-trial diversion program, these charges were dismissed.
Friday around 4:30 a.m., a Norcross Police officer in metro Atlanta apprehended Ozuna and placed him into the Gwinnett County prison. He was charged with DUI and lane departure and released on a $1,820 bond. “The Atlanta Braves are aware of Marcell Ozuna’s arrest this morning and are still gathering details,” the organization said in a statement. “Our business takes these problems extremely seriously and is obviously dismayed by the current circumstance. Due to the legal nature of this situation, we will have no more comment until the process is complete.”
Ozuna was not in the lineup on Friday, the sixth consecutive game he has missed due to poor performance on the field, according to manager Brian Snitker.
Friday morning, Snitker spoke with Ozuna but did not elaborate on their conversation.
“No, I believe everything has been said,” Snitker stated. We are disappointed that it occurred, but we will move on. Ozuna, 31 years old, is in his third season in Atlanta and second year of a four-year, $65 million contract. In 2020, he hit.338 and led the National League with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs, but his batting average has slipped below.215 for the past two seasons.
This season, Ozuna is batting.214 with 20 home runs and 46 RBIs. Even before the arrest, this season’s mediocre production led to a reduction in playing time.
Snitker did not know if Ozuna would be suspended.
Ozuna was placed on administrative leave pending an MLB investigation following his arrest in 2021 and missed Atlanta’s World Series title run. In November, he was suspended for 20 games for domestic abuse, allowing him to return for the start of current season.
Ozuna apologized to his teammates and fans during March spring training.
At the beginning of spring training, Ozuna told his followers, “I’ll give you my best and I’ll be a better person. I’m sorry.”
Previous charges were dismissed as a result of Ozuna’s pretrial diversion program, which includes 3-6 months of monitoring, a 24-week family violence intervention program, at least 200 hours of community service, and an anger management course.