Jurickson Profar continues to impress as Braves return looms

The Braves are fresh off a sweep of the Mets in a series that has suddenly revived a dead season, and it’s going to get even more life in the coming weeks with Jurickson Profar’s return looming.

The $42 million free agent signing is eligible to return to Atlanta on July 2, provided there are no rain-outs. Since joining the Stripers, Profar has a  .417/.467/.500 slash line, and even though it’s only been three games at the Triple-A level, he can provide a boost to what is still an inconsistent offense in Atlanta.

Now, at this point, a lot of Braves fans scoff and roll their eyes when I say that Jurickson Profar can help the club’s offense. I can understand that to a certain extent. His 2024 season is a statistical outlier, and it sure seems like he might’ve swindled the Braves out of $42 million. We all have a right to be pissed off.

However, all I care about is making it to the playoffs, and Profar can help us get there. Excluding his improbable 2024 campaign, Profar boasts an uninspiring 92 OPS+ across his career, which means his OPS has been 8% below league average over that span. Not exactly a significant addition, right? Wrong. That 92 OPS+ would be the fifth-best figure in the Braves’ lineup right now.

• Ronald Acuna Jr. — 227 OPS+ (LOL)
• Matt Olson — 135 OPS+
• Marcell Ozuna — 124 OPS+
• Drake Baldwin — 123 OPS+
• Sean Murphy — 110 OPS+
• Austin Riley — 110 OPS+

Obviously, only one of Baldwin and Murphy is ever in the lineup, so Profar’s 92 OPS+ would be the fifth-highest mark in Atlanta’s lineup. I’m not saying the Braves are suddenly going to become one of the league’s best offenses when he returns, but we can acknowledge that Profar can help the club win games.