Ranking the most disappointing Braves of 2025

2025 is up there with the most disappointing seasons in Braves franchise history. Sure, there were plenty of teams in the 1980s that struggled to win even 60 games, but disappointment is rooted in expectations — and those teams had none.

The teams of the 1980s were not expected to make any noise, and their attendance reflected that. The 2025 Braves are playing in front of a soldout crowd at Truist Park on a nightly basis. They were projected to win the NL East and were given the second-highest odds of any team to win the World Series, behind only the Dodgers. Yet, the Braves sit at 38-45 halfway through the season, 7.5 games out of a playoff spot and 11 games behind the Phillies for first place in the NL East.

That’s the definition of a letdown. And with it have come discouraging individual performances, ones that raise real questions about whether the Braves need to seriously re-tool their roster in the near future.

5. Raisel Iglesias

One of the most dominating closers over the last three seasons turning into the bullpen’s biggest liability coming in at #5 on this list shows just how many players have drastically underperformed expectations so far this season. Iglesias has been much better as of late, recording eight straight scoreless appearances, but he still owns a 5.28 ERA and has accrued -0.5 WAR on the season. That has been especially grueling for a team that’s played in so many tight games.

4. Austin Riley

Some might disagree with Austin Riley being above Raisel Iglesias on this list. He’s the only one here that’s actually been above average compared to the rest of the league. However, a .751 OPS with a 107 OPS+ (7% above league average) while playing subpar defense at third base just isn’t anywhere near good enough for a player that is the highest-paid player in franchise history. The Braves have featured a slew of Hall of Famers over the course of 100+ years, and Austin Riley is richer than all of them. Yet, he’s not even playing at an All-Star level, let alone a Hall of Fame level. Additionally, Riley has just a .681 OPS with four homers over his last 48 games. That’s a supreme disappointment.

3. Ozzie Albies

Probably the most concerning name on this list, I’m not sure Ozzie Albies is going to be with the Braves for much longer. Physically, it looks as if all of the injuries have taken their toll. His power has fallen off a cliff, and surprisingly, he can’t hit lefties anymore. Given he’s never been a high on-base guy and his defense is also fading, Albies really doesn’t bring a single positive aspect to the team outside of his smile, and nobody should be smiling in that clubhouse with how the team has played in the first half of 2025.

2. Michael Harris II

Predicted to be a dark horse MVP candidate by some because of his elite physical tools, Michael Harris II appears to have lost any sense of the strike zone, featuring a Chase Rate of 42.3%! Pitchers have figured out that there’s no need to throw anything near the plate because he’ll swing helplessly anyway, leading to a 55 OPS+ (45% below league average), good for the worst mark among all qualified hitters. Thankfully, Harris is still elite defensively, but not even that will keep him in the lineup for much longer if he can’t completely change his approach at the plate.

1. Jurickson Profar

Does an explanation even need to be written? Jurickson Profar completely screwed the Atlanta Braves when he got busted for PED use just four games into his new $42 million contract. He hasn’t played since, and because of that, the Braves have had a black hole in left field the entire season. Of course, Profar will get an opportunity to redeem himself very soon. He will be eligible to return tomorrow, and while nobody should be happy about what transpired, his transgressions will be quickly forgiven if he can help kickstart a Braves offense that has been a bottom ten unit in baseball through the first half of 2025.