Start with the bat. On Monday night, Ozuna ripped the hardest-hit home run of the early season when his second blast registered a 115 mph exit velocity.
“I don’t think there’s a much better sign,” Shildt said. “When you hit the hardest ball all season it speaks to what we talk about with exit velocity and hard contact. It means he’s getting a good pitch to hit and and speaks to the fact it’s lined up with (his) timing. He’s a big, strong guy and if he’s swinging at good pitches, that’s what you get.”
Asked if he felt opponents were trying to take advantage of Ozuna’s arm, Shildt said he felt that was more the case last season.