Pirates GM Ben Cherington Supports Slumping DH Marcell Ozuna

The Pittsburgh Pirates boast one of the most formidable offensive lineups in Major League Baseball, ranking third in hits, fourth in RBIs, and fifth in team batting average. However, one player who has struggled to make an impact is designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. Signed this offseason to serve as the Pirates’ primary DH, the former All-Star has yet to recapture his previous form.

In 49 games this season, the 35-year-old Ozuna is hitting just .193 with a .277 on-base percentage and a .304 slugging percentage, accompanied by five home runs and 58 strikeouts. His performance has resulted in a negative WAR of -0.8, raising concerns about his contributions to the team.

Despite these challenges, Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington expressed unwavering support for Ozuna during an appearance on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan. “Certainly plenty of runway in terms of being on the team,” Cherington stated, emphasizing Ozuna’s importance. “He’s a big part of the team. We keep working with him. He’s made a really good contribution off the field. He hasn’t gotten quite going on the field yet.”

Cherington acknowledged the complexities of managing the lineup, which has allowed Manager Don Kelly to explore various options at DH. “I think the biggest challenge in the short term is the lineup with the roster construction we have right now. There are obviously a lot of days where Donny has a reason to put someone else at DH,” he explained. This flexibility has led to multiple players, including Bryan Reynolds, Spencer Horwitz, Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz, Ryan O’Hearn, and Konnor Griffin, taking turns at the designated hitter spot, with six different players filling that role since May 28.

While Ozuna has had the most appearances at DH, his performance in 2026 has been lackluster. As he navigates the latter stages of his career, his age has become apparent at the plate. However, it’s worth noting that Ozuna has a history of overcoming slow starts; last season, he battled through injuries before finishing with 21 home runs. Just two seasons ago, he showcased his power with 39 home runs, ranking among the league leaders in slugging percentage and OPS.

Despite external pressure to move on from Ozuna, Cherington and the Pirates remain optimistic about his potential to turn things around. “We are going to give it time because we see that hot streak for him,” Cherington said. “We want to be the beneficiaries of that when that happens and are confident that will happen.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.