ATLANTA -- Will Jurickson Profar’s return be what the Braves need to turn things around?
“One established guy who can lengthen your lineup can be a big deal, especially with him being a switch-hitter” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “The matchup thing, you can take that out of the hands of the opposition. Yeah, I think it can be a big deal.”
Profar’s return certainly can’t hurt the Braves, whose offensive woes were extended in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies on Sunday afternoon at Truist Park. Atlanta ended up going 7-6 during a 13-game stretch that included just one series win.
Yeah, the Braves tallied a winning record during this challenging stretch, but after beginning this span with three straight wins against the Mets, they went 4-6 against the Marlins (1-2), Mets (again, 2-2) and Phillies (1-2).
Atlanta is seven games under .500 and eight games back in the battle for the third and final National League Wild Card spot. They began the 13-game stretch 7 ½ games back in the battle for that last playoff position.
“I think consistency is the thing we’re still searching for,” Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider said. “There’s no excuses and I don’t think you’re going to find any. The belief that we are a better team is in the clubhouse. At some point, that’s going to have to translate into results.”
The clubhouse will include a new inhabitant on Wednesday, when Profar is activated from the restricted list. The veteran played just four games this season before being handed an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug.
Will he be welcomed with open arms? Will he apologize to his teammates?
“That’s a good question,” Braves third baseman Austin Riley said. “I haven’t spoken to him since he got busted.”
“I have no idea what his plans are,” Strider said. “I have not seen him since Spring Training. So, I know that he's been in Gwinnett, and I think, I think he's been hitting the ball well. So, I'm sure he's eager to get on the field and hopefully help us in whatever capacity he’s able to.”
Profar hit .326 with three homers and a .991 OPS in the 12 games he played for Triple-A Gwinnett over the past two weeks. He’ll play left field, fill the fifth or sixth spot in Atlanta’s lineup and attempt to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.
As a member of the Colorado Rockies in 2023, Profar homered once every 67.7 at-bats and produced a .793 OPS over 232 plate appearances at Coors Field, but managed just a .572 in his 240 PAs on the road. He was released by Colorado on Aug. 27, 2023, before signing with the Padres, where he worked out with Fernando Tatis Sr. and Jr. and set career highs in homers (24) and OPS (.839) with the Padres in 2024.
Unfortunately, all of this creates skepticism about his ability to live up to the expectations set after the Braves signed him to a three-year, $42 million deal in January.
But the Braves are desperate for help. Ronald Acuña Jr. ranks third among qualified MLB players with the 1.109 OPS he has tallied since he made his season debut on May 23. But Atlanta ranks 24th among 30 MLB clubs with a .683 OPS during this span.
How is this possible? Well, three key regulars have had an OPS under .620 -- Ozzie Albies (.613), Marcell Ozuna (.589) and Michael Harris II (.491) -- within this span. And to provide a crueler reality about this anemic offense, you can look at the fact that among qualified Braves in June, Austin Riley ranked third with a .660 OPS, trailing Acuña (1.087) and Matt Olson (.937).
There were 172 qualified Major Leaguers in June. Harris ranked last with a .426 OPS, Albies ranked 165th with a .528 OPS and Ozuna ranked 161st with a .550 OPS. So, a third of Atlanta’s regulars accounted for three of 12 worst OPSes this past month.
So, yeah, there’s a chance Profar’s addition will be beneficial, as long as he hits like he did last year and not like he did when the Rockies released him just two years ago.
Profar won’t be eligible for the postseason. But the Braves are hoping he can at least help them reach the playoffs.
“I’m always going to be optimistic that our best days are ahead,” Snitker said.