3 Braves stars who could win NL MVP this season

Marcell Ozuna

Marcell Ozuna came to Atlanta in 2020 with something to prove. He’d been a two-time All-Star in Miami, but things didn’t work out for him when he was traded to Saint Louis. A one-year deal with the Braves was a make-or-break prospect.

Simply put, Ozuna made it. Big time. A contract worth $65 million over four years followed.

The reason Atlanta re-signed Ozuna is the same reason he’s an MVP candidate for 2021. He was a monster from the temporary designated hitter spot, leading the national league in home runs with 18, RBIs with 56 and total bases with 145. He was third in on-base percentage, third in offensive win percentage and sixth in win probability added.

While Freddie Freeman ran away with NL MVP voting, Ozuna finished a respectable sixth.

Ozuna will be back in 2021 with more opportunities to shine, though this time, he’ll be playing in the outfield.

With a new contract in hand, Ozuna will have to prove he’s got the good with the pressure of playing for a new deal lifted. If he can do that, he’ll be a menace for opposing teams to deal with and a viable candidate to challenge Freeman and Acuna Jr. for MVP honors.