Fansided

Brian Snitker's incredible gift to Marcell Ozuna fueled slugger's home run barrage

The Braves offense is back! And all it took was a special gift from the team's manager.

By Chase Owens |
Jun 15, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) hits a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) hits a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-USA TODAY Sports / Mady Mertens-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves offense seems to have found their mojo once again. Despite the injuries in the outfield, the Braves have enjoyed a string of encouraging performances from the offense in the last few games.

Yesterday the Braves saw the home run ball return in glorious fashion, and today the fifth inning was filled with fireworks. Atlanta was struggling to generate offense off Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot early on. Still, perhaps a gift from manager Brian Snitker was all they needed to get the offense rolling.

Braves offense rally around the "big" bear

Marcell Ozuna has been locked in since Opening Day, but the same can't be said for the rest of the Atlanta offense. However, they didn't let that keep them down, and now they're obliterating baseballs like they did last season.

Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Braves finally got on the board thanks to a two-run homer from Jarred Kelenic in his first day batting leadoff. From there it was fireworks the rest of the day for Atlanta's offense. Later in the inning Ozuna and Matt Olson both hit two-run homers to extend the Braves lead to 5-1.

After the Ozuna homer the Braves broadcast captured the slugger dressing up a teddy bear that was placed in the Braves dugout. Thanks to some excellent reporting from the Braves' own Hanna Yates, it was discovered that the teddy bear was a gift to Marcell Ozuna, from manager Brian Snitker.

The bear has apparently been named "Snitbear" according to those close to the situation. And we are not going to argue with the results thus far. Since Snitbear's introduction, Ozuna is 3-4 with a homer. Meanwhile, the Braves have four home runs and nine runs scored this afternoon.

Great news for Braves fans, it sounds like the rally bear is here to stay! Hopefully, this team celebration isn't nixed like the big hat celebration from last year. Things were tough on the road trip for Atlanta, but if the 2024 season is going to turn around thanks to a rally teddy bear, I'm sure Braves country is all on board.

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