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3 players that Atlanta Braves fans wish were a part of the 2023 Home Run Derby

By Nick Halden

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 23: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves comes to bat during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on May 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 23: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves comes to bat during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on May 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Jun 24, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) celebrates with third base coach Ron Washington (37) after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) celebrates with third base coach Ron Washington (37) after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /

An Atlanta Braves player who could be in the Home Run Derby: Marcell Ozuna

After a dismal start to the season, Ozuna started to fit into this lineup, hitting 17 homers and drastically improving his approach at the plate. With massive power, Ozuna would be an interesting wild card in the bracket. While there are Braves with far better contact rates, Ozuna has as much raw power as any hitter Atlanta could send.

Ozuna was at the top of the league in homers in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season and hit a career-high 37 homers in the 2017 season with the Miami Marlins.

Marcell isn’t the most popular Atlanta Braves player due to off-the-field issues and it was a very questionable decision to keep the veteran on the roster. It was one the Braves made obviously based not on Ozuna himself but also based on the contract and the expected production that he is now providing.

Regardless of the questionable front-office decision-making, there is no question that Ozuna is one of the most powerful bats in the Braves lineup and would be an interesting option at this point in his career.

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