Marcell Ozuna has returned to the Atlanta Braves after a domestic violence suspension. | Atlanta Braves/Facebook
Marcell Ozuna has returned to the Atlanta Braves after a domestic violence suspension. | Atlanta Braves/Facebook
Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna said he is ready to do his best to earn back the respect of fans after he returned to the team from a domestic violence suspension.
Ozuna, 31, was arrested in May 2021 for a domestic violence incident involving his wife, Major League Baseball news said.
“MLB retroactively levied an unpaid suspension of 20 regular-season games for violating the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy,” MLB.com said.
Ozuna rejoined the team on March 14.
“I spoke to my team,” Ozuna said, according to MLB.com. “I said, ‘I’m sorry and I made a mistake.’”
Ozuna has participated in a pretrial diversion program and an intervention program.
Since 2015, MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association have had a joint policy against domestic violence, which outlines steps regarding treatment and intervention, investigations, discipline, training, education and resources.
In the second season of a four-year deal, Ozuna played 48 games in 2021 before fracturing two fingers on his left hand on May 25, 2021.
Ozuna, who played in the Dominican Winter League, said he wants to regain the respect of fans.
“I have to earn everything right now,” Ozuna said, according to MLB.com. “I’m going to do my best to do that.”
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