Marcell Ozuna’s case to be an All-Star in 2024

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ATLANTA — Marcell Ozuna was one of the few Braves hitters who didn’t receive an All-Star selection last season. There’s a chance he’ll be the only hitter representing Atlanta at this year’s Midsummer Classic.

But even though Ozuna ranks among the top five National League hitters in multiple major statistical categories, it’s not necessarily a certainty he will be selected.

Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber received the first- and second-most votes, respectively, among NL designated hitters in Phase 1 of the balloting, which ended Thursday. The top two finishers at each position (and the top six outfielders) advanced to the second phase of voting.

Ozuna was never going to win a popularity contest against Ohtani. So, barring injury, there was no reason to think he might be the NL’s starting designated hitter for the All-Star Game, played July 16 at Globe Life Field.

Batting average: .303 (sixth)
Home runs: 21 (second, trailing Ohtani)
OPS: .953 (third)
RBIs: 64 (second)

Schwarber doesn’t rank among the NL’s top five in any of these categories. He ranks 13th with a .820 OPS. There’s no doubt who is having the better season. But if the coaches and players vote like the fans did, then Ozuna — who was previously selected to the NL squad in 2016 and ’17 — will likely find himself as this year’s most significant All-Star snub.

Fourteen months ago, it looked like Ozuna’s career or at least his Braves tenure might be ending. But here is where he ranks among all MLB players since May 1, 2023:

Batting average: .299 (ninth)
Home runs: 59 (third, trailing Ohtani and Aaron Judge)
OPS: .963 (sixth)
RBIs: 162 (first)

This is remarkable. Fourteen months ago, I was pointing out that Ozuna’s April 2023 stats were similar to what Eddie Rosario had produced one season earlier, before he learned he needed surgery on his right eye. Now, I’m wondering how many Braves players I might have covered (since 2001) who have had a better 14-month stretch.

Ozuna has played 205 games since May 1, 2023. Just to make it a round number, here are the Braves who have hit .300 with 55-plus homers, 160-plus RBIs and an OPS of .960 or better over any 200-game stretch in franchise history:

Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Andrés Galarraga, Fred McGriff and Ozuna.