ATLANTAÂ Â The Braves are hopeful that Jurickson Profar can step in as their everyday left fielder and fill the void in the No. 2 spot of the lineup once he returns from suspension. Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal in January, began a two-week rehab stint with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday night. In his debut, he collected two singles in three at-bats and drew a walk.
He is eligible to rejoin the Braves on July 2, when Atlanta hosts the Angels at Truist Park provided there are no delays. Manager Brian Snitker said the plan is for Profar to play full games in left field during his assignment to regain timing and stamina, though he may DH occasionally to manage his workload.
Profar was suspended 80 games after testing positive for Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a banned performance enhancer. He had only appeared in four games before the suspension was announced.
In Profar’s absence, Jarred Kelenic, Eli White, and Alex Verdugo have all struggled in left field. Entering Tuesday, Braves left fielders ranked 29th in MLB with a .554 OPS. Once reinstated, Profar is expected to start daily in left and hit second behind Ronald Acuña Jr. Although he won’t be eligible for postseason play due to the suspension, he could still help spark a turnaround if the team makes a late push.
Profar hit a career-high 24 home runs with an .839 OPS for the Padres last season. From 2020 to 2023, he posted a .702 OPS over nearly 1,800 plate appearances.
