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Which Atlanta Braves players does the delay help and hurt?

By James Kunkle

VENICE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves looks back for the signal in the first inning during the spring training game against the New York Yankees at Cool Today Park on February 28, 2020 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
VENICE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves looks back for the signal in the first inning during the spring training game against the New York Yankees at Cool Today Park on February 28, 2020 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves Macell Ozuna
SARASOTA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 20: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. Marcell Ozuna

The other big signing from free agency the Atlanta Braves made could be another player that will be helped out from this delay to start the season.

Marcell Ozuna just did not look ready to start the season at all during spring training. I tend to not try and look too closely at spring training stats, but it was hard to ignore that Ozuna was just off.

After being a one-man wrecking crew against the Atlanta Braves last October, the Braves were hoping to get a similar version for most of the 2020 season for themselves this time.

With this layoff, maybe we still will. I’m sure Ozuna is at home working out feverishly to get back where he was just a few short months ago.

A lot of the Atlanta Braves offense is no doubt riding on the shoulders of Ozuna. Projected to be this year’s cleanup batter, he will obviously be relied upon to drive in a ton of runs and also to protect Freddie Freeman in the lineup.

A couple of other tangibles in play here are again, he is on a one year deal, so a big year might perhaps make the Atlanta Braves want to keep him around into the 2021 season at the least.

Also, let’s not kid ourselves. Atlanta Braves fans have not forgotten what we had last year in the cleanup spot and Ozuna will be compared at every opportunity whether that is fair or not. That’s just how it goes.

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