The Pittsburgh Pirates, after wrapping up the 2025 season with a disappointing 71-91 record and finishing last in the NL Central, have taken another step to strengthen their roster for 2026. The franchise, which has missed the playoffs for a tenth straight year, recently signed former Atlanta Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract in free agency. This move, along with prior acquisitions like Ryan O’Hearn, Brandon Lowe, and Jhostynxon Garcia, aims to revive the team’s offensive production and restore hope for the upcoming season.
Genesis Guzman, Ozuna’s partner, highlighted the fresh start on social media, posting,
“New team, new goals, new beginning, new story, new life,”
conveying the optimism surrounding the signing.
How Marcell Ozuna’s Signing Could Transform the Pirates’ Lineup
Baseball insiders Jason Foster and David Adler detailed the significance of bringing Ozuna to Pittsburgh. Despite Ozuna having a down year by his standards in 2025, when he hit a .232 batting average with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs, his consistency as a power hitter remains valuable.
“The 35-year-old Ozuna is a three-time All-Star — most recently in 2024 with the Braves — and a two-time Silver Slugger. He had a slight down year by his own standards last season, but still belted 21 home runs for Atlanta, his fourth consecutive 20-homer season. Between Ozuna (21 homers in 2025), Lowe (31 homers) and O’Hearn (17 homers), the Pirates have injected a lot of power into their lineup for 2026. That’s important for a Pittsburgh team that hit the fewest home runs in the Majors last season (117) and finished last in slugging percentage (.350) and OPS (.655),” Foster and Adler reported.
The presence of Ozuna, combined with Brandon Lowe’s 31 homers and Ryan O’Hearn’s 17 from last season, considerably enhances the Pirates’ power potential. Pittsburgh’s struggles in the previous season were apparent, as they ranked last in several offensive categories, underscoring the need for this power surge.
Ozuna’s Past Performance Indicates Continued Offensive Value
Although Ozuna’s 2025 numbers didn’t match his peak, his recent history shows he remains a formidable hitter. In both 2023 and 2024, he ranked among the National League’s top power hitters, producing near 40 home run seasons and driving in over 100 runs each year. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) hovered around .905 in 2023 and improved slightly to .925 in 2024, performances that earned him a fourth-place finish in the NL MVP voting.
“And although last season might not have been Ozuna’s best, in 2023 and ’24, he was one of the top sluggers in the National League. Ozuna had 40 home runs, 100 RBIs and a .905 OPS in 2023, and 39 home runs, 104 RBIs and a .925 OPS in 2024, finishing fourth in the NL MVP voting.”
Moreover, despite the decrease in power output last year, Ozuna remained an above-average hitter, posting a 113 OPS+—indicating he was 13% better than the league average. His impressive 15.9% walk rate contributed to a strong .355 on-base percentage, demonstrating his ability to maintain offensive productivity beyond just home runs.
“But even as he struggled to replicate his previous power numbers, Ozuna remained an above-average hitter. He finished with a 113 OPS+ (meaning he was 13% better than league average), helped greatly by an elite 15.9% walk rate that fueled a .355 on-base percentage.”
Fans Anticipate Seeing Ozuna in Action at Spring Training
The Pirates’ fanbase will have an early opportunity to see Marcell Ozuna‘s impact during the upcoming spring training in Bradenton, Florida. The Bucs aim to integrate their new additions quickly, hoping these moves translate into a more competitive 2026 campaign. As the Pirates build around Ozuna’s power and the contributions of Lowe, O’Hearn, and Garcia, there is cautious optimism that the long playoff drought could finally end.
This high-profile signing marks a critical juncture for Pittsburgh’s rebuilding efforts, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to addressing offensive weaknesses. The upcoming season will test whether these personnel changes can generate the needed momentum to elevate the team from its prolonged struggles.
