Outfielder Marcell Ozuna for the Braves was detained early on Friday and accused with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Before the matchup with the Houston Astros, Ozuna spoke to the media for 18 seconds. He gave a statement but refused to answer any queries.
I let my team down,” he admitted. “I let my family down. I have nothing further to add. This is a legal issue.”
Ozuna has been arrested twice in as many years. On May 29, 2021, he was detained on suspicion of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police claimed to have seen him assault his wife. After he successfully completed a pretrial diversion program, those charges were dismissed.
At before 4:30 a.m. on Friday, Ozuna was taken into custody by a Norcross Police officer in metro Atlanta and lodged in the Gwinnett County jail. He was released on a $1,830 bond after being charged with DUI and failing to maintain lane.
The Atlanta Braves released a statement saying, “The Atlanta Braves are aware of Marcell Ozuna’s arrest this morning and are still gathering all the information relevant to the event.” “We take these issues extremely seriously at our organisation, and we are certainly dissatisfied in the current circumstances. We won’t have any more to say because this is a legal issue until the case is over.”
According to manager Brian Snitker, Ozuna’s absence from the starting lineup on Friday marked the sixth straight game he has missed because of subpar play.
Snitker spoke to Ozuna earlier Friday but didn’t elaborate on their conversation.
“No, like I said, I think everything’s been said,” Snitker said. “We’re disappointed that it happened, and we’ll just go on.”
Ozuna, 31, is in his third season in Atlanta and in the second year of a $65 million, four-year contract. He hit .338 and led the National League with 18 homers and 56 RBI in 2020, but has dropped below .215 for two consecutive seasons.
Ozuna is hitting .214 with 20 homers and 46 RBI this season. This season’s substandard production led to reduced playing time even before the arrest.
Snitker didn’t know whether Ozuna will face a suspension.
Following the 2021 arrest, Ozuna was placed on administrative leave during a MLB investigation and missed Atlanta’s World Series championship run. He was then suspended for 20 games under its domestic violence policy in November, allowing him to return for the start of this season.
Ozuna apologized to his teammates and fans at spring training in March.
“My fans, I’m going to give you the best and I’m going to be a better person, and I’m sorry,” Ozuna said at the start of spring training.
Ozuna’s pretrial diversion program, which led to the previous charges being dropped, included 3-6 months of supervision, a 24-week family violence intervention program, at least 200 hours of community service and an anger management course.
