Coming into the offseason, Jurickson Profar was among one of the best free agents available. Both MLB Trade Rumors and FanGraphs predicted the switch-hitting 31-year-old would get three years and $45 million. So it came as a bit of a surprise when the outfielder signed with the Atlanta Braves for $3 million less than expected.
However, after talking to the media on Friday morning, it turned out that the Braves had more of an inside edge than expected.
.@JURICKSONPROFAR is excited to join #BravesCountry 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ONMJ5iEaAU
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 24, 2025
The Braves' Curaçao connection helped the team sign Jurickson Profar
There have been 17 players in MLB history who were born in Curaçao. Profar will now be the seventh to have played for the Atlanta Braves. Additionally, six of the top seven by bWAR have been Braves, with only Jonathan Schoop not wearing the A.
MLB bWAR Leaders Born in Curaçao🇨🇼
— Peyton (@bsblwithpeyton) January 23, 2025
1. Andruw Jones: 62.7
2. Andrelton Simmons: 37.2
t-3. Ozzie Albies: 21.8
t-3: Kenley Jansen: 21.8
4. Jonathan Schoop: 19.5
5. Jair Jurrjens: 10.4
6. Jurickson Profar: 8.4
6 of these 7 players will have suited up for the Braves.
With the exception of Kenley Jansen, who only spent a season with the Braves, Andrelton Simmons, Jair Jurrjens, Andruw Jones, and now Ozzie Albies were (or in Albies' case, is) integral members of the team. Only Simmons wasn't an All-Star out of this bunch, and he likely should have been.
When Profar entered free agency in 2023-2024, he asked Andruw Jones to get him on the Braves. Atlanta winded up going with a different option in left field, while Profar returned to San Diego and had a career year.
Once again a free agent this offseason, Profar had two preferences: either return to the Padres, or join the long list of Curaçao natives who have donned the Braves uniform. This time, the Braves were willing to give him a deal the Padres weren't wanting to match.
Profar said Curaçao is filled with #Braves fans, that he grew up watching Andruw Jones and the Braves play on TV there every Wednesday. He told Andruw a year ago to get him to the Braves, and said when he became a free agent again he wanted to stay with Padres or come to Atlanta.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) January 24, 2025
Profar also noted that, "Curaçao is a Braves country," and it certainly did not hurt that one of the best to ever come from the Island, Ozzie Albies, is almost certainly with the club for the next three seasons.
Profar told the Braves media that he grew up a Braves fan, which isn't too surprising because of just how good Andruw Jones was. The new Atlanta outfielder also admitted that when his seven-year-old son found out the Braves were interested in signing Profar, the seven-year-old pushed his father to sign.
While the Braves likely have some more work to do to solidify their 2025 Opening Day roster, adding Profar was a huge piece to the puzzle, and without this big connection, the Braves might still be on the hunt.