Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley DH Options For Braves
4 years agoAtlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna's range has declined in recent years, and his arm strength hasn't really returned since he had right shoulder surgery after the 2018 season. The presence of the designated hitter for National League teams this year will allow the Braves to put Ozuna's power bat in the middle of the lineup without worrying about his defense. It would also allow Nick Markakis and Adam Duvall to platoon in left field. The .823 OPS that Markakis had against righties the last two years makes him a candidate to be in the lineup on a somewhat regular basis. Austin Riley and Johan Camargo will be battling for the third base job, so the loser of that battle could see regular DH at-bats. Riley doesn't stand out on defense in the outfield or at third base, but if his bat is hot, manager Brian Snitker will find a way to keep him in the lineup.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman