Does Jurickson Profar even have a spot on the Braves when he returns?

Of all the blows that have negatively affected the Braves over the first five weeks of the season, the most impactful came just four games in, when it was announced Jurickson Profar would be suspended for 80 games after being popped for PEDs.

Immediately, the outfield became the Braves’ biggest concern again, and that was the case for much of the first month. Michael Harris II struggled, while Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic — the Braves’ other two starting outfielders — were so abysmal they are no longer even on the active roster anymore. However, their replacements have really helped kick-start an offense that was scuffling to begin the 2025 campaign.

Alex Verdugo has been a godsend. The Braves picked him up late in the offseason, signing him to a one-year contract worth just over $1 million. He spent the first few weeks of the season ramping up activities in Gwinnett, but since joining the major-league club on April 18th, he’s hitting .304 with a .754 OPS while playing above average defense in the outfield. Verdugo isn’t going to provide the type of power the Braves were hoping to get out of Jurickson Profar, but he’s a perfect fit at the top of the lineup and in the clubhouse.

Not to be outdone, Eli White has actually been even better than Alex Verdugo since taking over the starting role for Jarred Kelenic. White is also sporting a batting average of .304, but he’s showcased a little pop with a couple of critical home runs and an OPS of .921. That’ll play, especially considering White is a plus defender and one of the fastest players in the league on the basepaths.

At this point, it would be difficult to take either White or Verdugo out of the everyday lineup, and while White’s hot start could eventually fade, Verdugo has been a better player than Jurickson Profar over the course of their respective careers. It’s not unreasonable to think one of White or Verdugo — or a combination of the two — should be starting every day, even when Profar returns, given he will not be eligible for the postseason.

To be frank, there’s really no reason Jurickson Profar should receive playing time this season. He actively cheated, screwed over the entire organization, and cannot help the Braves this year in the postseason. Atlanta’s not going to outright release him right now, but they could re-evaluate things in the offseason. I wouldn’t be shocked if Profar played less than 50 games in a Braves uniform after signing a three-year, $42 million contract with the club in the offseason.

—

Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

The post Does Jurickson Profar even have a spot on the Braves when he returns? appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.