Ozuna rebounds in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals slugger Marcell Ozuna stopped and marveled at the towering, 400-foot home run he deposited into left field at Busch Stadium on Saturday against the Angels. If not for Albert Pujols’ homecoming, it might have been the most memorable home run of the afternoon for the sellout crowd.

As Ozuna rounded first base, he pointed to the Cardinal faithful as they cheered. He basked in the love from a fan base renowned as the best fans in baseball.

What a difference a year makes.

Ozuna struggled in his new surroundings last year in his first season in St. Louis after being traded from Miami.

The Dominican outfielder hit 23 home runs and had a .758 OPS last season, falling short of the stats that earned him an All-Star bid, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award in 2017 with the Marlins.

Much was expected of him after he hit 37 home runs and 124 RBI in 2017 with the Marlins, but an injured left shoulder conspired to sabotage his 2018 campaign. He worked diligently this offseason to regain his form after hitting 23 home runs and 88 RBI in his first year in St. Louis.

“I was working hard early in the season and in the offseason, too,” Ozuna said “I see the results and I see everything to be in the spot that I am right now.”

He’s also feeling at home in the Gateway City, just as Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog and Lou Brock told him he would feel when they first met him over dinner in January 2018.

“I feel more comfortable,” Ozuna said. “I got all my teammates that I know from last year, and that’s (given) me a little freedom to play the game and play harder every day.”

Ozuna has hit 20 home runs this season, including two in the weekend set against the Angels. He’s on pace to hit 42 this season, which would be a career high.

If he can stay healthy, it could be a career year and the Cardinals would see the player they expected to get when they sent four players to Miami for him.

“I think there’s something to be said when you come into a place with high expectations,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “That can be a challenging thing to deal with. It takes a little time to get acclimated to what that looks like and what those expectations are. And you raise your balance with that.”

The weekend set against Anaheim had a familial feel for Ozuna. It was a homecoming for Pujols, who is more than just a legendary Cardinal to Ozuna.

“(He’s) the guy that taught me (about) hitting,” Ozuna said. Ozuna credits Pujols with teaching him discipline and how to properly use his body to maximize his own swing. He met Pujols at Robinson Canó’s academy in the Dominican Republic.

“We talk kind of about the patience of the plate and looking for the pitch,” Ozuna said. “He always says to me, ‘Through your hands. Through your hands and to the ball. You’re so strong. You don’t have to push your body out of control. It doesn’t make sense.’”

Pujols gave his mentee a front row seat to his teachings. In turn, Ozuna showed his mentor how he has bounced back. Ozuna also gave his family a front row seat, too. As he trotted around third base, Ozuna pointed behind home plate, where his wife Genesis and their three children sat.

“That felt good, thanks to God,” Ozuna said. “They are taking part in this great moment that God has given me.”

Featured Image: Mike Stobe / Getty Images Sport

Inset Image 1: Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport