What's in a number? For CF Marcell Ozuna he's hoping 13 turns out to be the right fit

JUPITER -- Marcell Ozuna wants to make one thing clear: "I'm not superstitious about wearing [the number] 13."

This off season, the Marlins' 23-year old center fielder switched from 48 -- the number he wore as a rookie last year -- to the jersey  formerly worn by manager Ozzie Guillen in 2012 and utility man Chris Valaika in 2013.

The reason for the switch? "Something inside my mind, when I get hurt, I want to switch," Ozuna said Monday. 

Ozuna has switched numbers quite a bit in his career. He said he wore 18 when he first played in the Dominican Summer League. Then he switched to 27 when he signed with the Marlins and played for them in the minors. He wore that number until he injured his wrist for Single A Greensboro in 2010.

Then it was time to switch to 34. Ozuna wore that in the minors until he was called up last season by the big league squad. Since right-hander Tom Koehler was wearing 34, Ozuna settled on 48.

"A lot of people say 'Hey can I get your number' [when they get to the big leagues and somebody else already has their jersey number," Ozuna said. "Not me."

He hit .265 with 3 homers, 32 RBI and five stolen bases in 70 games for the Marlins before injuring his left thumb making a diving catch in Colorado on July 22. He decided this off-season it was time to switch again. After all, who wants to wear an unlucky number?

"If I don't get hurt, I'll wear [13] a long time," said Ozuna, who played winter ball in the Dominican Republic for the Gigantes del Cibao and hit hit .277 with 2 homers and 12 RBI (.376 slugging) in 34 games.

"I'll wear it my whole career."

Only two Marlins have ever worn the number 13 longer than one season: catchers Paul Hoover (2007-08) and  Rob Natal (1993-97). Omar Infante (2011), Mike Lamb (2010), Will Ohman (2010), Andy Gonzalez (2009) are the others.

What does Ozuna think of the most famous athlete to wear No. 13 in Miami -- Hall of Fame Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino?

"Who?" Ozuna asked. "Don't know him. I don't watch football."

> Reliever Steve Cishek, who was feeling some neck discomfort at the start of camp, said he will face live hitters for the first time in camp Thursday. He's thrown off the mound twice so far in camp.

"[Bullpen coach] Reid Cornelius stood in the batter's box  for me Sunday," Cishek said. "Of course it's not the same. I can't wait to face some real hitters."