As if the first week of the 2025 season couldn’t get any worse for the Atlanta Braves, the news broke Monday that left fielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a banned substance called chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). He won’t be eligible to return to action until late June. Additionally, he is ineligible to play in the postseason should the Braves reach it.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar is being suspended for 80 games for violating MLB’s PED policy, sources confirm to ESPN. First with the news was @mikedeportes.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 31, 2025
The crushing news leaves a massive hole in the Braves’ lineup. Profar, Atlanta’s only major offseason acquisition, was brought in on a three-year, $42 million deal to provide a key bat and veteran presence. With superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. still on the mend, Profar batted leadoff in all four games of the opening series against the San Diego Padres.
Replacing a player of Profar’s caliber is no small task. However, the Braves possess solid outfield depth at the moment. Let’s examine some of the options to cover left field for the next few months.
Braves Have Several Options to Replace Jurickson Profar in Left Field
Jarred Kelenic
Kelenic is the obvious choice to cover left field in Profar’s stead. He is the next most talented outfielder on Atlanta’s roster and started 75 games in left a year ago. The former Seattle Mariner has started the first five games of the season in right field, but is more than capable of sliding over to the other corner outfield spot.
Kelenic’s days as a top prospect are long gone, but he still has time to figure it out. His pro career has been a disappointment (career slash line of .212/.283/.379), but he is still only 25 years old with solid power, speed, and defense. He was likely to be phased out of the starting lineup upon Acuña’s return, but now will have another extended opportunity to start as the Braves’ left fielder. This may be his last chance to prove he can stick as a starting-caliber big leaguer.
Bryan De La Cruz
De La Cruz was more or less an afterthought after signing a one-year deal in December. However, he may now play a bigger role in the Braves’ season than anyone expected. He started the year on the weak side of a right field platoon with Kelenic, but has received limited at-bats so far with the Braves facing five righties to begin the campaign.
De La Cruz is a career .252 hitter, spending most of his career so far with the Miami Marlins. He has played left field in over half of his MLB games. While certainly not an inspiring option, he has the experience and past success to merit a more extended look given the circumstances.
Alex Verdugo
Verdugo was signed for depth in March following a poor 2024 season with the New York Yankees. Like Kelenic, he is a former top prospect who has been somewhat disappointing in the big leagues relative to his pedigree. That said, he has the most big league success of anyone on this list, including several good years with the Boston Red Sox.
Verdugo is currently ramping up at Triple-A Gwinnett and could be called up any day. After that, he should get plenty of playing time with both starting corner outfielders out. If he can prove his Yankees tenure was a fluke, he could go down as an excellent signing.
Eli White
White has been a seldom-used utility option in Atlanta for several years. The former Clemson Tiger offers above-average speed and defense, but has a career OPS+ of 58. He has struck out in his only at-bat of the year so far. White is another right-handed option should De La Cruz struggle, but will likely remain a bench piece barring further catastrophe.
Stuart Fairchild
Likely seeing the writing on the wall with Profar, the Braves acquired Fairchild from Cincinnati for cash considerations on Monday. He provides borderline elite OAA and sprint speed, but his career stats at the plate are truly ugly. Ultimately, Fairchild is unlikely to be anything more than a bench piece. But the depth is more valuable to have than ever.
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