Do the Braves Have the Best Outfield Nobody Is Talking About?

Eli White was the lone “bright” spot among the fill-ins.

Alex Verdugo briefly provided a spark, but that flame quickly dissipated before he was DFA’d once Profar returned. Bryan De La Cruz never found a role and was quickly phased out. Jarred Kelenic, once seen as a high-upside flier, turned into a miss for Alex Anthopoulos. Stuart Fairchild was picked up mid-season out of necessity after the Reds let him go.

The biggest concern, though, was Harris.

His first-half numbers were alarming: a .209/.232/.316 slash line with just a .548 OPS and 46 wRC+. For a player who closed 2024 with an .823 OPS and 125 wRC+ – and a player under contract for seven more seasons – it raised real questions about his future.

Second-Half Explosion

Just as poorly as the first half concluded, the second half of 2024 exploded.

Harris has caught fire after the break, showing flashes of the talent that made him a Rookie of the Year. Profar, back from suspension, has given Atlanta steady offense. While he may not repeat his 2024 season, he is currently outperforming many of his career averages. Acuña has been exactly what you’d hope a superstar returning from major surgery to be: He’s still one of the best players in baseball.

Since July 2, when Profar rejoined the lineup, the Braves’ outfield has been one of the best in baseball:

Parentheses () indicate ranking since 7/2/25 among outfielders with 100+ PA.

The second half of the season has seen such a positive spark for Atlanta’s lineup after months of offensive despair.

Braves outfielders rank third in AVG (.281), second in OBP (.364) and first in SLG (.501), OPS (.865), wOBA (.372), and wRC+ (139). That production has helped Atlanta score 216 runs post-All-Star break, sixth-most in the league.

Acuña, Harris, and Profar account for 87% of Atlanta’s outfield at-bats, cementing themselves as a top-tier trio.

In fact, the Braves are one of just four teams with three outfielders ranking in the top 50 in wRC+ during that stretch, alongside the Brewers, Red Sox, and Mariners.

The numbers are clear: Not only is this group meeting expectations, they’re exceeding them.

What Does It Mean?

For Braves fans, I completely understand that it’s not easy to search for positives in a lost season. Atlanta hasn’t missed October baseball in years, and even last season’s 89-win Wild Card berth felt like a letdown.

But this outfield is something to be excited about. Profar is signed through 2027, Acuña through 2028, and Harris through 2032. That’s stability and star power if they can maintain their success.

With Marcell Ozuna’s contract expiring, there’s also an opportunity for Anthopoulos to strengthen the group further. Personally, I’d love to see Atlanta add another outfielder this offseason via trade or free agency, giving both Acuña and Profar the flexibility to rotate at DH and preserve their health without losing out on their bats.

Of course, there are valid questions to ask. Will Profar sustain this level of play? Can Harris avoid another sluggish first half?

The answers likely lie somewhere in the middle. Profar and Harris may regress a bit, but Acuña should also improve as he gets further removed from injury. That balance could keep Atlanta’s outfield among the league’s elite for the next few years.

Heading into 2026, the Braves still have holes to fill, and health will be the biggest determining factor in their success. But few teams can match this combination of talent, youth, and contract security that Atlanta has, including in the outfield.

If the Braves are back in the World Series mix next year, and they should be, Ronald Acuña Jr, Michael Harris II, and Jurickson Profar will be at the heart of it.