Tampa Bay Rays Cannot Wait for Marcell Ozuna to Leave

Every team has that one player who, for whatever reason, just destroys their pitching staff. For the Tampa Bay Rays, that player is Miami Marlins left fielder Marcell Ozuna.

Marcell Ozuna has developed into a solid player for the Miami Marlins. After a disappointing 2015 campaign, Ozuna followed up on his breakthrough season the year before. In both 2014 and 2016, he belted 23 home runs, showing the power that could make him a viable source of protection for Giancarlo Stanton.

And yet, even before his breakthrough campaign, Ozuna had been a thorn in the side for the Tampa Bay Rays. He had recorded at least one hit in every game he played against them, feasting on Rays pitching. That streak continued yesterday, as Ozuna rapped a single to extend his hitting streak against Tampa Bay to 21 games.

That base hit came just one day after Ozuna launched a home run that may still be travelling if not for the Rays 2011 Wild Card banner. After Blake Snell left a fastball down the heart of the plate, Ozuna sent that ball into the stratosphere, hitting the banner 468 feet from home plate. Chances are, that ball would have kept going, and may well have hit the back wall of Tropicana Field had he pulled the ball a bit more.

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It also seems that punishing the Rays is a family affair for the Ozuna’s. Earlier in the day, during the Rays-Marlins annual wives and girlfriends softball game, Marcell’s wife, Genesis, launched a home run of her own. There is no word as to whether or not Snell’s girlfriend was pitching at the time.

Regardless of which member of the family is at the plate, the Ozuna’s own the Rays. Fortunately for Tampa Bay, their annual home and home series with Miami is over, with the nightmare of Marcell Ozuna behind them. That is, until next season, when Ozuna returns from the mists like another incarnation of Freddy or Jason. Nightmare on Tropicana Drive Part 22: New Nightmare will be coming out in 2018. Hopefully, this will have a different ending.

Next: The Rays Home Field Advantage

Marcell Ozuna has a hit in every game he has played against the Tampa Bay Rays. Needless to say, they will not miss seeing the Miami Marlins for the rest of the season.