Entering spring training, the Atlanta Braves offense looked solid. Even though shortstop Ha-Seong Kim would miss the beginning of the season, the team had defensive flexibility with Jurickson Profar set to handle most of the at bats at designated hitter.
Unfortunately, Profar decided he wasn't satisfied with just one PED suspension on his resumé, leaving him with him with a 162-game suspension, and the Braves with a black hole at designated hitter. With Profar out of the picture, here are the Braves potential Opening Day designated hitter options.
4 potential Opening Day designated hitter options for the Braves
Drake Baldwin
While this is partially a cop-out, as the Braves will likely face a lefty on Opening Day, moving the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year from catcher to DH permanently against lefties will solve the huge hole that Profar is leaving.
This, of course, means that backup catcher Jonah Heim would be getting more plate appearances than anticipated, but it would keep Baldwin fresher as the season goes on. One just has to hope that Sean Murphy heals quickly if this is the plan.
Dominic Smith
When the Braves signed Dominic Smith after the start of spring training, it seemed like he was simply a depth move in case of an emergency to first baseman Matt Olson. Now, there's a much higher chance he opens the season on the Opening Day roster.
While the lefty first baseman has never hit southpaws particularly well, he could get the nod at DH if Walt Weiss wants to have Drake Baldwin behind the plate to start the season, and if the Braves haven't added a viable right-handed bat.
Andrew McCutchen
Despite being a league-average hitter last season, Pittsburgh Pirates legend Andrew McCutchen remains unsigned and was actually replaced by former Braves DH Marcell Ozuna this offseason.
While a 95 OPS+ isn't particularly exciting, the 39-year-old had a 113 OPS+ and a .743 OPS against lefties last season. With Profar out, the Braves don't have a great option for the right side of the platoon, and McCutchen would fill that gap perfectly.
McCutchen, who was not pleased with the Pirates after they moved on, will likely be extraordinarily motivated as well to prove his old team wrong.
Kyle Farmer
Kyle Farmer signed with the Braves at the beginning of spring training on a minor league deal as a potential backup infielder option. Although his overall numbers were not pretty last season, Farmer did have a 117 OPS+ and a .767 OPS against lefties.
Although it might initially seem like a waste to use an infielder as a DH on Opening Day, Farmer's defensive stats are subpar, so using him as the right-handed platoon designated hitter would not be handicapping defensive upside.