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2008 As nice as it was for the Sox to scrape the gunk off Ozuna and give him a shot, there comes a point at which you shouldn't go out of your way to keep doing a guy favors. He's a utility scrub making seven figures, and while he can make contact and run a little, the team has to ask itself why it's paying so much for a manager's pet capable of only modest contributions. 2007 A true utility player, Ozuna`s out-of-character offensive numbers in 2006 led Ozzie Guillen to misuse him as Scott Podsednik`s platoon partner in left. Re-signed for 2007, Ozuna has his fans within the organization, but if the White Sox can identify a more reliable solution for right-handed pop off the bench, he could be squeezed by mid-season. 2006 The White Sox bench combined for -8.6 VORP last year, the fifth-worst figure in baseball. Ozuna was no small part of the problem. Much of his playing time came at third base, and Ozzie Guillen often saw fit to stick him in the leadoff spot. In spite of his performance, Ozuna was signed to a guaranteed contract for 2006. The White Sox have committed worse sins, but they`re dangerously thin on position player talent and aren`t guaranteed to be as fortunate with the injury bug this time around. 2003 The prospect sheen on Ozuna was already fading, but the extra four years tacked on as he entered the country for spring training finished it off. However, all is not lost; with the trade to Colorado, Ozuna is a strong spring training away from swiping a middle infield spot from an equally fringe guy like Brent Butler, and running with it. 2002 Ozuna broke his wrist playing winter ball after the 2000 season, then eventually underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in the wrist. He missed the entire 2001 season due to the injury and may have been passed by Kevin Hooper in the line of guys waiting for Luis Castillo to get hurt. He's off the prospect track. 2001 He dropped off many prospect lists with a mediocre 1999 campaign after being aggressively pushed to Double-A. He should find his way back onto those lists following an encouraging repeat season with Portland. Pablo Ozuna is a line-drive contact hitter whose biggest improvement was a dramatic surge in walks. Prior to the season, he was moved from shortstop to second base, ostensibly because of a weak throwing arm, but probably because the Marlins had more doubts about Castillo than Gonzalez. Implausibly, there is now some thought of trying Ozuna in the outfield. Given Alex Gonzalez’s murky future, the club should swallow hard, put Ozuna back at shortstop, and tolerate his defensive limitations. 2000 Concerns about his throwing arm had the Marlins moving Ozuna to second base last winter. He was one of the youngest players in Double-A in 1999, so his regression as a hitter isn’t too worrisome. The move to second base is, as it puts him behind a better player in Castillo. The potential for a Gonzalez/Ozuna middle infield in 2002, walking a total of 50 times, should send shudders down the spines of Marlin fans. Ozuna will have to show some offensive development in 2000 to maintain his status as a top prospect. 1999 If this organization that didn’t already have J.D. Drew or Rick Ankiel, you’d hear more about Ozuna. Named the best prospect in the Midwest League, he’s the best glove at short in the organization, has great speed, and potentially a great offensive player. He won’t make people forget the AL trio of ARod, Nomar, and Jeter, but within the next two years, the Cardinals are going to have someone who deserves to get mentioned with them.
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