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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

‘Big Bear’ on the prowl. Braves’ Marcell Ozuna heading for another big year

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

ATLANTA (AP) — Marcell Ozuna shrugged off the chants of “MVP! MVP! MVP!”

The Atlanta Braves slugger knows, better than most, how fleeting the good times can be.

“You have to be at the same level,” Ozuna said, “so you don’t get comfortable.”

Only a year ago, his career was hanging by a thread. The same fans who cheer him now were booing lustily every time he stepped to the plate. It seemed just a matter of time before he was sent packing by the Braves.

But the team stuck with him, and Ozuna is again one of baseball’s most feared hitters. He went deep twice Wednesday night, leading Atlanta to a 5-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox and passing Shohei Ohtani for the MLB’s home run lead with 12.