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Braves' Marcell Ozuna will take part in Home Run Derby

Justin Toscano, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on

Published in Baseball

ATLANTA — Marcell Ozuna is in.

The Braves' designated hitter announced Monday that he will compete in the Home Run Derby at next week’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He will be one of eight participants.

Ozuna joins the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson, the Mets’ Pete Alonso, the Phillies’ Alec Bohm and the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. as players who have committed to the event so far.

Ozuna gave no hints that he would be participating at a press conference Sunday following him being named one of three Braves players named All-Stars. He said he wasn’t sure of his plans when asked about his possible participation.

Ozuna made his announcement on social media. He wrote: “Excited to announce my official participation in the @tmobile Home Run Derby. This is a big moment for me and my family and I’m beyond excited to put on a show for the fans. @braves Country you have been amazing and I promise to continue to give you guys my all in Texas! Expect some BIG FLYS as I continue to embrace this moment and journey with you all.”

 

Ozuna is tied for fourth in the majors and second in the National League with 23 homers this year.

This year’s Derby will follow a different format from previous years: The top four hitters from an eight-player pool will advance to the semifinals, which will be a bracket-style round determined by each participant’s Round 1 home run totals. The top two will then face off in the finals.

Ronald Acuña Jr. has participated in two recent Home Run Derbys. He lost in the semifinals to Alonso in 2019, and Alonso eliminated Acuña in the first round in 2022.

Other Braves to participate in the Home Run Derby are Dale Murphy (1985), Ozzie Virgil (1987), David Justice (1993), Fred McGriff (1994), Chipper Jones (1997-98, 2000), Javy Lopez (1998), Gary Sheffield (2003), Andruw Jones (2005) and Freddie Freeman (2019, 2022).


©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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