Braves Shuffle Lineup After Jurickson Profar Suspension
Major League Baseball suspended Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar for 80 games on Monday after he tested positive for a banned substance. The suspension comes just months after Profar signed a three-year, $42 million deal with Atlanta this offseason.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar (7) is congratulated after scoring a run in Spring Training.Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images
Profar started the Braves' first four games in left field, going 3-for-15 in their series against the San Diego Padres. The 2024 MLB All-Star was expected to be the everyday left fielder, but Atlanta will now have to pivot while Profar serves his suspension.
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Off to a disappointing 0-4 start, the Braves have been hit hard with injuries, and Profar's suspension only adds to their struggles. With 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. still recovering from knee surgery, Atlanta has turned to Jarred Kelenic in right field for the first four games, though Bryan De La Cruz is also competing for playing time.
Profar's suspension means both Kelenic and De La Cruz will see more action. When the Braves face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, Kelenic will shift to left field, while De La Cruz makes his first start of the season in right field.
Other immediate options for Atlanta in the outfield include Eli White and newly-acquired Stuart Fairchild. The Braves acquired Fairchild in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds Monday, suggesting they may have anticipated a hefty suspension for Profar.
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The Braves could also turn to outfielder Alex Verdugo, who they signed near the end of Spring Training. Verdugo is currently at Triple-A Gwinnett, but is expected to join Atlanta in the near future, with Profar's suspension likely speeding up that timeline.
In the meantime, Kelenic and De La Cruz will get the majority of reps in the corner outfield positions. Both players entered 2025 with pressure to perform in Acuña's absence and will now have more time to prove themselves thanks to Profar's untimely suspension. Michael Harris II remains Atlanta's everyday center fielder amid the corner outfield shuffle.
With the Braves off to a nightmare start in 2025, the news of Profar's suspension couldn't have come at a worse time. Between a string of injuries and Monday's suspension, Atlanta will have to survive the early stages of the season until its stars return. With a three-game series in Los Angeles this week, the Braves need immediate production from Kelenic and De La Cruz.
Related: Braves Right Fielders Are Running Out of Time
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