West Newsmagazine 3-21-18

WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
By WARREN MAYES
Marcell Ozuna and Mike Matheny share
a common goal: get to the post season.
Adding a player like Ozuna will help.
The former Miami Marlin described the
Cardinals as “a good team that may get in
the playoffs.”
“That team [the Cardinals] fights every
year for the playoffs. That, I like,” he said.
Matheny likes Ozuna. “I think our
organization did a great job of being very
aggressive, even kind of outside our norm
[in aquiring the two-time All-Star selection],”
Matheny said. His
addition bolsters both the Cardinals
offense and defense.
Last season, the 27-year-old
outfielder batted .312 with 37
home runs and 124 RBIs for
the Marlins. He had a .376
on-base percentage, a .548
slugging average and an OPS
of .924. All were career bests.
He also earned a Gold Glove
Award – his first.
The Cardinals acquired
Ozuna in exchange for minor
league outfielder Magneuris
Sierra and pitching prospects
Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen
and Daniel Castano.
“I think the most interesting
internal debates we’ve had is
when you look at our position
players. They’re all good, but
we needed great,” Cardinals
President of Baseball Operations
John Mozeliak said. Marcell Ozuna
“We were able to do that with
Ozuna and we think ... he’s going to pull
some people up with him.
“Whenever I watched him, I was like,
‘He could be so good.’ What do great
players do that other players don’t? When
they do things, they make it look easy. He
always had a quick bat, would hit the ball
hard, and I always just sort of wondered
why he didn’t do more. Clearly, last year,
he did.”
The outfielder from the Dominican
Republic set career-bests nearly across
the board last year – and he did so while
playing largely in the shadow of former
teammate Giancarlo Stanton and his major
league-best 59 home runs. As good as
Ozuna was offensively last season, he also
won the Gold Glove in left field – where
he’ll play with the Cardinals in an outfield
that’s expected to feature Tommy Pham in
center and Dexter Fowler in right.
Pitcher Adam Wainwright is glad to see
Ozuna sporting a Cardinals uniform.
“I love having him. Looking back at our
MARCH 21, 2018
CARDINALS SALUTE 2018 31
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
Ozuna makes winning look easy
game with the Marlins last year, we patterned
our game around Ozuna,” Wainwright
said. “I mean they had some great
young players but, at the time, he was the
hottest guy in that lineup. He’s improved
so much over the last two years. He’s an
incredibly big, strong guy.
“Talent-wise, he is one of the best hitters
in the National League and one of the
toughest outs in the National League.”
Starter Luke Weaver is glad he doesn’t
have to pitch to Ozuna anymore.
“He’s a stud,” Weaver said. “I don’t want
to face him.”
[Bill Greenblatt/UPI photo]
Tommy Pham added, “I was in Florida
when I heard about it and I was pumped.
He killed us. He killed us this past season.
He hit all of our pitchers and he used the
whole field. He won a Gold Glove. He’s
a guy who can impact the game not only
offensively but defensively.”
Ozuna’s longtime friends Yadier Molina
and Carlos Martinez have long teased him
about bringing his skills to St. Louis.
“Marcell Ozuna is one of the best players
in the National League,” Molina said. “I’m
happy with that.”
For his part, Ozuna said he feels no
added pressure as the big bat to the middle
of the lineup.
“There’s no pressure. Just play the game,
enjoy the game and have fun,” Ozuna
said. “If you have fun and your family is
OK, you’re going to play well ... Being in
the lineup is the best part. Hitting eighth
or leadoff, it’s being in the lineup that’s
important to me. Playing every day makes
me feel happy.”
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