Braves' Smith Shines as Ozuna Receives Warm Welcome in Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) — In a memorable moment for Braves fans, Marcell Ozuna received a heartfelt ovation during his return to Atlanta with the Pittsburgh Pirates. This emotional reception occurred just a day before Dominic Smith showcased his own talents at designated hitter in the Braves' 6-3 victory over the Pirates.

On Friday night, before Ozuna stepped up to the plate for his first at-bat, he acknowledged the crowd by tipping his batting helmet and placing his hand over his heart, appreciating the warm welcome. The following day, Smith made his mark in the game by hitting a two-run homer that contributed to a pivotal three-run inning for Atlanta. Currently, Smith boasts an impressive batting average of .309, along with six home runs and 28 RBIs, marking his best power numbers since 2024.

Initially, Smith thought his hit might land as a single or veer foul, but it instead sailed fair into the left-field stands. "I really wanted to focus on getting a good pitch to hit and just hit a line drive and not try to do too much,” he reflected. “And when I hit it, I’m like, all right, get down, get out.” He noted that he had also made solid contact earlier in the game, only to have a fly ball caught at the wall.

Braves manager Walt Weiss praised Smith's current performance, stating, “He’s in a really good place. He's got a plan and you can see it and he executes it. He's been great for us.” Weiss also commented on the special atmosphere surrounding Ozuna's return, stating that the ovation he received was a powerful moment for everyone involved. “He was the ultimate teammate, a fun guy to be around,” Weiss added.

Brandon Lowe filled the designated hitter role for the Pirates during Saturday's match.