Miami Marlins Morning News: Marcell Ozuna a Different Player in 2016

Marcell Ozuna has turned himself around and is a completely different player this year. Last year Ozuna took the game too lightly, was overweight and ended the season with a .259 average with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. Ozuna blamed himself for his down and rather disappointing year.

According to an article in the Miami Herald by Clark Spencer, Ozuna said "I thought it was going to be easy because I did it before. It's going to be easy, and I don't have to worry."

However, Ozuna has been one of best Marlins this year, hitting .343 with 9 home runs, 26 RBIs. Ozuna has also been the hottest hitter in the majors with a .426 average for the month of May and a 34-game streak of reaching base heading into Saturday night. On top of all that he has a chance to set some records:

• Ozuna has a chance to finish with the highest month-of-May average ever by a Marlin. The record belongs to a Mets fan favorite, Bobby Bonilla, who hit .382 in May of 1997.
• He is threatening the club record for any month. That mark belongs to Preston Wilson, who hit .431 in July of 1999.
• For the month of May alone, Ozuna is tied for the major-league lead in runs scored with 22, ranks third in the majors with a .734 slugging percentage and is second in on-base percentage (.455).
• His run of reaching base in 34 consecutive games ranks seventh in franchise history

The way this season is shaping up Ozuna may have to be the key to success for the Marlins. If nothing else the Marlins hope he can add stability to the lineup until Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton return.

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