Reports: Pirates to release DH Marcell Ozuna

Field Level Media|published: 08/05/2026, 11:27am EDT

Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (24) high fives teammates after scoring on a base hit by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis (32) in the sixth inning between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, August 1, 2026.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will release designated hitter Marcell Ozuna on Wednesday, multiple media outlets reported.

The reported move comes just under six months after the team signed Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract.

Per reports, second baseman Ronny Simon will be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Ozuna's roster spot.

Simon, 26, is batting .330 with seven homers, 63 RBIs and 33 stolen bases in 99 games at Indianapolis.

Ozuna hasn't provided much bang for his buck in Pittsburgh, batting .203 with eight homers and 29 RBIs to go along with 80 strikeouts in 70 games this season.

Ozuna, 35, batted .232 with 21 homers and 68 RBIs in 145 games last season with the Atlanta Braves. Those numbers took a significant dip after the three-time All-Star hit .302 with 39 homers and 104 RBIs in 162 games in 2024.

A two-time Silver Slugger and a former Gold Glove winner, Ozuna is a career .267 hitter with 304 homers, 977 RBIs and 1,678 hits in 1,684 games with the Miami Marlins (2013-17), St. Louis Cardinals (2018-19), Braves (2020-25) and Pirates.

--Field Level Media