Alex Anthopoulos talks Braves internal reaction to Jurickson Profar’s suspension

The Braves have had a roller coaster of a season, one that has recently ascended at a rapid rate that should only explode with the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider, but it began in a nose dive with Jurickson Profar getting popped for PED use.

It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Immediately, the outfield became the Braves’ biggest liability and that was the case for much of the first month. Michael Harris II struggled, while Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic — the other two starting outfielders — were so abysmal they are no longer even on the active roster.

Thankfully, the outfield has picked it up. Harris has improved, and the combination of Eli White and Alex Verdugo far exceeds that of Kelenic and De La Cruz. Braves Country doesn’t agree on much, but the entire fan base doesn’t take fondly to Profar’s failed PED test. That’s not exactly the sentiment within Atlanta’s clubhouse, though.

In an interview with 680 The Fan’s Chuck and Chernoff, Alex Anthopoulos talked about what’s transpired behind the scenes following the 80-game suspension to the free agent Atlanta gave $42 million.

“He addressed the players, talked to the players. No one condones anything. Bottom line is you’re responsible for what you put into your body, whatever the circumstances are. Immediate reaction to anybody is going to be ‘my dog ate my homework,'” Atlanta’s President of Baseball Operations said.

“We’re losing him for 80 games. He knows that, nobody is pleased with it. I’ll tell you this though, his teammates support him. He did address them. He did talk to them,” Anthopoulos continued. “We’ve been through, well this isn’t the exact same circumstance, but we’ve been through challenges with players before, specifically Marcell (Ozuna). The bottom line is to his core, people loved him as a teammate, and just like anything else, everyone supports him.”

Some never want to see Profar in a Braves uniform again. Others can see the value in his presence to capture a playoff berth. The entire organization shouldn’t suffer because of his mistake, right? Well, what about the opinions that really matter? Those within the organization.

They clearly are willing to forgive and forget, which shouldn’t be too surprising. The Braves have always been a tight-knit group, a culture that is praised around the league. When Ozuna went through his trials and tribulations, which included off-the-field and on-the-field struggles, all anyone did was go to bat for him.

And the organization is better for it. The Braves’ DH has been the lineup’s best hitter over the last two seasons, and I can guarantee the Big Bear is in Jurickson Profar’s corner. He’s been through it, so he knows how hard it can be.

I’m not saying I forgive Jurickson Profar for what he did. What I am telling you is the Braves are going to forgive him, and if the club is in a position where they need him in the lineup to make the playoffs, he’s going to be playing.

What I’m also telling you is the fan base will treat him exactly how they treated Marcell Ozuna too. If he comes back in the second half of 2025 and in 2026 and produces like he did during his final season in San Diego, Braves Country will welcome him back with open arms.

In that same breath, if the club is comfortably in the playoff picture by the time his suspension ends, there’s reason to believe he won’t be getting regular playing time because he won’t be available in October. It’ll be a fluid situation, but the Braves won’t be holding grudges, at least, so it seems.