The Atlanta Braves have a massive question mark hanging over their roster, and the answer lies in Venezuela. Jurickson Profar will play winter ball for Los Tiburones de La Guaira, a move that signals he has a long way to go to earn back his spot. According to Battery Power, Lindsay Crosby was the first to report the news that Profar is hitting the field again. This is the first baseball he has played since the 2026 season started, and the clock is ticking on his career with the club.
Profar missed the entire 2026 campaign without pay after a failed drug test. That suspension cost the team a useful bat for 243 games. The numbers from his last healthy season show he hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs in 80 games, but those stats feel distant now. The cloud of the PED usage still hangs over his production. He signed with the same team Ronald Acuña Jr. has played for in the past, which feels like a goodwill assignment to smooth things over with teammates he left high and dry.
The General Manager Has Tough Choices Ahead
Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos is staring down a long offseason with a roster full of holes. Allegedly ignoring phone calls, a twice-suspended left fielder joins a roster plagued by a string of injured starting pitchers. Per Battery Power, Anthopoulos praised the offense for being top 10 in many categories, but internally he cannot be pleased with the results. Trying to deal with the baseballs has turned their hitters inside out, yielding results too poor to support a resilient pitching staff.
There is no guarantee Profar returns for 2027. The organization has to decide if they can trust him again after he walked away for two seasons. Some fans might want to cut ties, but the Braves tolerated Marcell Ozuna through his own issues. They might do the same for Profar if he shows up ready to work.
It Is About More Than Just Hitting
Profar needs to prove he can be reliable in the field or he will be stuck as a designated hitter. Since he appeared unenthusiastic about the DH role last year, he might attempt playing some outfield in Venezuela to prove his capability. The team needs to address the injury situation and the holes in the infield, but they also need to fix the culture. Tim Hyers, the hitting coach, is only under a two-year contract that has expired, and his instruction appears to be not clear or not helpful.
This winter league stint is the only chance Profar has to reset his standing. If he fails to show growth, the Braves could look at prospect Eric Hartman, who is looming in Double-A. Question marks exist over at least half the infield, alongside a right fielder who struggles to stay on the field. They cannot afford to bring back a player who is not ready to contribute. The decision rests on what he does in Venezuela, not what he said before the suspension.
