PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The signing of Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract with an option for a second season will be linked to what it means to the future of Andrew McCutchen with the Pirates. It’s likely, if not certain, Ozuna replaced McCutchen on the roster.
Take the emotion out, let’s compare the last three seasons.
Both players are designated hitters, so fielding is not a concern and McCutchen is four years older than Ozuna.
It should be noted, last season Ozuna hit all but four of his 21 home runs to the left field. PNC Park is a much tougher ballpark for right-handed pull hitters with the exception of hugging the left field line. The power alley in left-center at Truist Park in 385 feet, the power alley at PNC is 383 feet, however it quickly juts out to the North Side Notch of 410 feet.
Ozuna hit 11 of his 21 home runs at home last year in 2025, 19 of his 39 home runs were at home last year and in 2023, 23 of his 40 home runs were in Atlanta. Over that same time, McCutchen hit four of his 13 at home in 2025, hit nine of his 20 at home in 2024 and five of his 12 at PNC Park in 2023.
Both players gutted through injuries last season.
The comparison here is of power numbers, but does include batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. Also, what each player did in the last three years against lefties as the Bucs currently have more left-handed hitters than right
2025
Andrew McCutchen
· 477 at bats, 22 2B, 13 HR, 57 RBI, .239/.333 on base/.367 slugging/.700 OPS
· Left-handed pitchers—131 at bats, 3 HR, .267/.353/.389/.743
Marcell Ozuna
· 487 at bats, 19 2B, 21 HR, 68 RBI, .232/.355/.400/.756
· Left-handed pitchers—126 at bats, 12 HR, .278/.345/.635/.980
2024
Andrew McCutchen
· 448 at bats, 18 2B, 20 HR, 50 RBI, .232/.328/.411/.739
· Left-handed pitchers-120 at bats, 6 HR, .200/.319/.375/.694
Marcell Ozuna
· 606 at bats, 31 2B, 39 HR, 104 RBI, .302/.378/.546/.925
· Left-handed pitchers-141 at bats, 5 HR, .319/.407/.496/.904
2023
Andrew McCutchen
· 390 at bats, 19 2B, 12 HR, 43 RBI, .256/.378/.397/.776
· Left-handed pitchers-134 at bats, 4 HR, .261/.383/.410/.793
Marcell Ozuna
· 530 at bats, 29 2B, 40 HR, 100 RBI, .274/.346/.558/.905
For those who like the WAR stat (wins above replacement), McCutchen was a combined 2.3 over the last three seasons, Ozuna was 9.3.
Those are the numbers, make what you want out of the signing.