When RyanO'Hearn and MarcellOzuna were brought in on significant free-agent contracts this winter, the idea was that they would provide an offensive boost to a group that desperately needed it.
O'Hearn has consistently done that up to this point, while Ozuna has taken a bit longer to get going. The new guys provided some early power on this particular day, hitting their fourth and second home runs of the season, respectively, to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead they would eventually relinquish.
O'Hearn ended up going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a walk, raising his team-best batting average and on-base percentage numbers to .329 and .417, respectively. As for Ozuna, he had a 2-for-6 showing to see his batting average grow from .169 to .185. Still not ideal by any means, but also encouraging to see a hitter of his caliber starting to hit and hit for power.
The offense, despite still struggling with runners in scoring position (2 for 17 tonight), has put together better results as a whole through 21 games. There's certainly still more to be desired there, but they've made steps in the right direction compared to where they were a year ago. If they want to continuing trending upward, they'll need the same type of production they got from guys like O'Hearn and Ozuna on a consistent basis.
THE ASYLUM
O'Hearn, Ozuna provide early boost
When Ryan O'Hearn and Marcell Ozuna were brought in on significant free-agent contracts this winter, the idea was that they would provide an offensive boost to a group that desperately needed it.
O'Hearn has consistently done that up to this point, while Ozuna has taken a bit longer to get going. The new guys provided some early power on this particular day, hitting their fourth and second home runs of the season, respectively, to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead they would eventually relinquish.
O'Hearn ended up going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a walk, raising his team-best batting average and on-base percentage numbers to .329 and .417, respectively. As for Ozuna, he had a 2-for-6 showing to see his batting average grow from .169 to .185. Still not ideal by any means, but also encouraging to see a hitter of his caliber starting to hit and hit for power.
The offense, despite still struggling with runners in scoring position (2 for 17 tonight), has put together better results as a whole through 21 games. There's certainly still more to be desired there, but they've made steps in the right direction compared to where they were a year ago. If they want to continuing trending upward, they'll need the same type of production they got from guys like O'Hearn and Ozuna on a consistent basis.
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