Snitker not concerned by Ozuna's slow start
Kipnis, Adrianza competing for roster spot; Inciarte returns
Mark Bowman
@mlbbowmanNORTH PORT, Fla. -- Braves manager Brian Snitker saw enough of Marcell Ozuna last year to know he shouldn¡¯t be concerned about what the veteran outfielder does through the first two weeks of March.
Ozuna¡¯s current skid continued when he went hitless in three at-bats in Sunday¡¯s 8-7 win over the Rays at CoolToday Park. Ozuna is 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts and no extra-base hits through his first eight games.
This is not uncharted waters for Ozuna. He was 3-for-28 with 14 strikeouts before the coronavirus shut down Spring Training last year. All of that was long forgotten by the time he hit an MLB-best 18 homers and finished sixth in National League Most Valuable Player Award balloting in 2020.
¡°He¡¯s one you don¡¯t worry about,¡± Snitker said. ¡°When the lights come on and that thing gets real, so will he.¡±
Before hitting a career-best 37 homers for the Marlins in 2017, Ozuna began Grapefruit League play by going 6-for-25 with a pair of home runs in his first 10 games.
As Ozuna prepares to begin his four-year, $64 million contract, the Braves are confident he¡¯s about to start heating up like Ronald Acu?a Jr., who was 2-for-14 with five strikeouts before capping a two-hit game against the Rays on Thursday with his first homer of the spring.
Acu?a added yet another homer when he went back to back with Jason Kipnis in Sunday¡¯s fifth inning. Kipnis¡¯ two-run shot against Yacksel R¨ªos was his first home run of the spring.
¡°[Acu?a] wants to play again tomorrow,¡± Snitker said. ¡°I think with a lot of these guys, once we start playing them two or three days in a row, it¡¯s going to work for their timing and seeing more pitches.¡±
Kipnis halts skid
While Ozuna, Acu?a and others have time to find a groove, Kipnis is fighting for a roster spot. With Sunday¡¯s homer, the former All-Star is 4-for-17 with a pair of extra-base hits and four strikeouts.
Kipnis and Ehire Adrianza are among the backup infielders attempting to land a bench role. Adrianza walked off Sunday¡¯s game against the Rays with a three-run homer. He is 5-for-13 with two extra-base hits and two strikeouts.
¡°I feel good for them,¡± Snitker said. ¡°They¡¯re both working hard. Any time you¡¯re in a situation like that, when you have a chance to contribute or do something good, it¡¯s a good thing. I was glad to see both of those guys come through.¡±
Inciarte returns
Ender Inciarte resumed his bid to regain his role as the Braves¡¯ primary center fielder. Inciarte went 1-for-2 with a single on Sunday. This marked the first time he played since he jammed his left thumb during a March 4 game against the Pirates.
Top prospect Cristian Pache might be the favorite to win the center-field job, but as he has gone 2-for-13 with three strikeouts thus far, he has shown why Inciarte can continue to provide value as an insurance piece.
¡°Ender still has the talent and skills to still be a very valuable piece on this team,¡± Snitker said. ¡°We¡¯ll see how this thing plays out. We¡¯ve got a couple games to go. There¡¯s nothing set right now.¡±
Worth noting
? Chris Martin is set to make his spring debut within the next few days. The veteran right-handed reliever has been healthy throughout camp. He just opted to spend these past two weeks pitching in intrasquad games on the back fields.
? Austin Riley will return to the lineup on Monday. The third baseman impressed Snitker with many of the swings he took during a recent intrasquad game.
? Sean Kazmar Jr. continued his torrid spring when he hit his team-high third home run in the eighth inning. The 36-year-old entered this year with five homers in 208 career Spring Training at-bats, dating back to his first camp with the Padres in 2006.