The Atlanta Braves 2025 campaign has been nothing short of a narrative whirlwind. What began with a nosedive thanks to Jurickson Profar’s PED suspension is now gaining serious altitude with the imminent returns of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider.
But let’s not forget just how deep the early-season turmoil ran — and how the team, slowly but surely, started pulling itself out of that dive.
The Braves Outfield Mess That Sparked the Storm
When Profar was hit with an 80-game suspension after signing a $42 million deal, Atlanta’s depth chart was turned upside down. The outfield went from a potential strength to an outright liability. Michael Harris II stumbled out of the gate, and the Bryan De La Cruz–Jarred Kelenic experiment? Flat-out disastrous. Neither of those players is even on the active roster anymore.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The fix didn’t come from a blockbuster trade or top prospect promotion — it came from Eli White and Alex Verdugo, who have managed to stabilize the position and even bring some real production back into the fold. And with Harris starting to look more like his old self, the worst-case scenario has quietly started to fade.
Profar’s Future: Forgiven, But Not Forgotten
Inside the clubhouse, though, the reaction to Profar’s suspension might surprise you. Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos addressed the situation publicly, and his comments were revealing. While no one excused the violation, there was a clear tone of forgiveness and unity.
“His teammates support him,” Anthopoulos told 680 The Fan, noting that Profar addressed the team directly after the suspension was announced. “We’ve been through challenges with players before… people loved him as a teammate.”
It is impossible to ignore the comparison to Marcell Ozuna, who experienced significant off-field and on-field adversity but eventually rebounded as the team’s best hitter.
And let’s be real — if Profar returns and rakes, Braves Country won’t hold a grudge for long. Fans may be frustrated now, and some may never want to see him wear the tomahawk again.
But they said the same thing about Ozuna, and now he’s being celebrated nightly. Atlanta’s fan base is passionate but pragmatic — they love redemption stories when they come with home runs.
A Second-Half Wild Card or a Forgotten Piece?
If the Atlanta Braves are comfortably in the playoff picture when his suspension ends, will they even need him? That’s the million-dollar question. He wouldn’t be postseason eligible in 2025, which puts a cap on how useful he could be down the stretch unless there’s an injury or performance slump.
So it becomes a fluid situation. If the outfield is clicking, Profar may find himself on the bench or even off the roster. But if a spark is needed and he’s showing flashes of that final-season-in-San-Diego magic, don’t be surprised if he’s penciled in and contributing come September.
The front office won’t hold a grudge. The clubhouse won’t hold a grudge. And if the bat comes back alive, the fans might not either. Whether Profar becomes an unsung hero or a forgotten chapter depends entirely on how the second half plays out and how he answers the bell when the time comes.
