When the Atlanta Braves signed Jurickson Profar last offseason, it was supposed to be the team's big move. He was coming off a great season with San Diego and appeared to be eager and ready to be a big time contributor in the Braves' lineup. Sadly, his suspension for PEDs changed everything for him and the Braves and raises some real questions of what to expect upon his return.
On surface, there is cause for optimism with Profar's return coming in a couple of weeks. Again, Profar was awesome last season and with production from left field being an ongoing problem thanks in large part to Alex Verdugo turning back into a pumpkin, getting a real bat that, in theory, could bat high in the order and who is also a switch-hitter should represent a massive upgrade.
Unfortunately, baseball isn't played on paper and there are some real reasons to believe that Profar's return isn't going to move the needle the way fans are hoping.
With the shadow of PEDs, Jurickson Profar's return to the Braves is causing a lot of uncertainty
Lets address the elephant in the room first being Profar's suspension. Profar claimed ignorance in his statement after his suspension and also claimed that he would never knowingly take performance enhancing drugs. The problem is that almost everyone who gets suspended says that even if they are dead to rights guilty. Not only are Braves fans not likely at all to immediately embrace Profar when he comes back, he could face an uphill battle with his new teammates in the clubhouse who have been through the wringer this season in his absence.
There is also the question of his performance last season and whether it was aided by PEDs. Again, Profar denied purposefully taking anything, said he was tested eight times last year with no positive tests, and his Padres teammates remain firmly in his corner and have spoken to his integrity. However, Profar did just have an outlier career year last year and he did just test positive for performance enhancing drugs. Until he proves the doubters wrong, there are going to be those that will think he isn't good when he is clean and there is a nonzero percent chance that is true.
The biggest problem with hinging one's hopes on Profar, though, is that he just hasn't been playing for half a season. It's likely he has been working out to stay in shape and the Braves are certainly going to try to play him to get something for their money. However, off the field preparation can only go so far and if anyone thinks that Profar is going to step right back in with all the headwinds he is facing and be a contributor straight away, they may want to pump the brakes.