Ozuna: 'I have to earn everything right now'

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Marcell Ozuna expressed remorse Monday as he rejoined the Braves for the first time since being arrested for domestic violence in May.

“I spoke to my team,” Ozuna said. “I said, ‘I’m sorry and I made a mistake.’”

Ozuna was arrested after police responded to a domestic disturbance at his Atlanta-area home on May 29. Cops said they saw the outfielder assault his wife. Charges initially included felony aggravated assault by strangulation. The felony charge was dropped in July.

After its investigation, MLB retroactively levied an unpaid suspension of 20 regular-season games for violating the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The suspension included each of the 20 games the Braves played between the time the outfielder was placed on Administrative Leave on Sept. 10 and the end of the 2021 regular season.

Ozuna said he benefited from a pretrial diversion program and an intervention program, which included an anger-management course. He remains married to his wife and believes he now has a better relationship with his three children.

“I’m giving time to my kids,” Ozuna said. “That is the most important thing. Family first. That’s my worry now.”

Ozuna, 31, is in the second season of a four-year deal. He played 48 games in 2021 before he fractured two fingers on his left hand while sliding toward third base during a May 25 game at Fenway Park. He returned to Atlanta the following day and his arrest occurred three days later, while the Braves were playing the Mets in New York.

After spending the past couple months playing in the Dominican Winter League, Ozuna is hopeful he can regain the respect of fans.

“I have to earn everything right now,” Ozuna said. “I’m going to do my best to do that.”