Pablo Ozuna

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name = Pablo Ozuna
team = Los Angeles Dodgers
number = 14
position = Utility player
birthdate = birth date and age|1974|8|25
birthplace = Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = April 23
debutyear = 2000
debutteam = Florida Marlins
statyear = 2007
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .286
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 3
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 36
teams =
*Florida Marlins (by|2000, by|2002)
*Colorado Rockies (by|2003)
*Chicago White Sox (by|2005-by|2008)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2008-present)

Pablo Jose Ozuna (born August 25, 1974 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball utility player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his career he has also played for the Florida Marlins (by|2000, by|2002) the Colorado Rockies (by|2003), and the Chicago White Sox (by|2005-by|2008).

Professional career

t. Louis Cardinals

Originally signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in by|1996, Ozuna spent two years in the Cardinal farm system before being traded with Braden Looper and Armando Almanza to the Florida Marlins for Edgar Rentería on December 14, by|1998.

Florida Marlins

Ozuna would spend four years with the Marlins organization before being traded again. This time he was traded with Charles Johnson and Vic Darensbourg to the Colorado Rockies for Mike Hampton and Juan Pierre on November 16, 2002. In 48 games with Florida, Ozuna had 21 hits in 71 at bats for a .295 batting average.

Colorado Rockies

Ozuna spent one year with the Colorado Rockies. In 17 games, he had 8 hits in 40 at bats for a .200 batting average. He was released on December 14, 2003.

Chicago White Sox

Ozuna signed with the Chicago White Sox on January 19, by|2005. He appeared in a career high 70 games and also had career highs with 203 at bats, 56 hits, and 11 RBI. Ozuna also had 14 stolen bases including a steal of home. He was brought back in by|2006 and on May 3, 2006, he hit his first career home run, a solo shot, to tie the game with two outs in the 9th inning against Eddie Guardado of the Seattle Mariners.

Ozuna can play all three outfield positions and all four infield positions. General Manager Ken Williams has joked that he would consider playing Ozuna at catcher if needed.

In by|2007, Ozuna was injured in a game against Tampa leading off the 1st inning. The White Sox were 24-20 -or- .545 and could never push a better winning percentage throughout the 2007 season.

Ozuna was designated for assignment on July 8, 2008, and released on July 16.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 20, 2008, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Notable Games

On October 12, 2005, during Game 2 of the ALCS A.J. Pierzynski, advanced to first base on a controversial dropped third strike call. Ozuna pinch ran for him, stealing second base on the second pitch of the at bat to Joe Crede. Ozuna scored the game winning run on a double by Crede to end the controversial game. It was the only game Ozuna appeared in during the postseason as the White Sox won the World Series.

On May 3, 2006, Ozuna hit a 2-out game tying home run in the bottom of the ninth, forcing the game into extra innings after a blown save by Cliff Politte. In the bottom of the 11th, Ozuna had another two out hit, a bouncer up the middle that he stretched into a double. His heads up play allowed Juan Uribe to bat in the winning run with a soft fly ball to short left center.

On July 20, in his first game with the Dodgers, was put in as a pinch-runner for Andy LaRoche after he singled in a run to make it a one-run game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth with two out. Matt Kemp then doubled him home, tying the game. The Dodgers eventually won the game, and tied with Arizona for first place in the N.L. west. Many believe that only Ozuna could have scored from first, and if LaRoche had remained in the game, he would have been tagged out.

On September 19, 2008 hit is 3rd career home run.

External links

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