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Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos comments on Marcell Ozuna’s injury

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Alex Lord | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 9:36 AM ET

When it rains, it pours in Atlanta. The Braves just sent A.J. Smith-Shawver to the IL for the rest of the season as the rookie tore his UCL amid the best stretch of play of his career. Now, concerns surround everyone’s favorite bear, Marcell Ozuna.

David O’Brien of The Athletic revealed that the veteran has been hampered for weeks by a hip injury.

“I’ve been kind of slow because I don’t want to rotate, because my hip is kind of shut down a little bit,” Ozuna said via O’Brien. “I had a tear (in the) right hip, so I just … keep battling. I’m trying to help my team. That’s the most important thing. I want to be in the lineup every single day, and do everything for my team.”

When I heard this news, my first thought was, ‘Why wouldn’t the Braves put him on the IL to let him heal up for the stretch run?’ Then, I figured, ‘Well, the Braves probably either have to let him battle through it, or put him under the knife, which would end his season.’

It seems that conclusion is correct. Alex Anthopoulos spoke to the Atlanta media yesterday, telling them that Ozuna is, in fact, playing through a hip tear, adding that it’ll be a factor and they will have to manage it until the offseason.

Alex Anthopoulos said Marcell Ozuna is playing through that hip tear. It’s going to be a factor this year, Anthopoulos said. Ozuna will have to manage it until the offseason.

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) June 2, 2025

This is par for the course that has been the Atlanta Braves for the past couple of seasons. Nothing seemingly bounces their way. Hopefully, the Big Bear can gut through this hip injury because he’s been the club’s best hitter for the last two seasons.

Even if he loses a bit of power, he’s still better than the alternative. Fortunately, the Braves wouldn’t have to trot Eli White or Jarred Kelenic out there. Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy can DH while the other catches if worst comes to worst with Ozuna.

Baldwin has taken the league by storm, but baseball has a special way of humbling everyone. The Braves’ rookie backstop will eventually hit the proverbial wall, and even if he never does, having Ozuna in the fold is still the best possible scenario for the Braves.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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