Alex Verdugo’s Braves Stint Comes to an Early End
Alex Verdugo’s time in Atlanta has officially come to a close.
The Braves have designated the veteran outfielder for assignment to make room for the return of Jurickson Profar, according to The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal. Verdugo signed a one-year deal with Atlanta late in the offseason after playing the 2024 season with the AL Champion New York Yankees.
While Verdugo got off to a strong start — slashing .322/.385/.441 over his first 65 plate appearances — his production has cooled considerably. Baseball Savant metrics show him ranking in just the 8th percentile in Barrel% and 47th in Hard Hit%, indicating a lack of consistent power behind the bat. Despite decent plate discipline, he hasn’t managed to establish himself as a steady offensive presence.
The Braves are now turning to Profar, who just completed an 80-game suspension for PED use. The hope is that he can bring some spark to a lineup in desperate need of offensive firepower.
“He’s going to be good for our lineup,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Tuesday night. “We’re getting an impactful switch hitter in the middle of the order. Hopefully, he can give us that spark and help get things going.”
Atlanta has gone 4-6 over its last 10 games — not disastrous, but far from ideal in a tight NL East race. With both the Phillies and Mets surging, and the Braves sitting 7.5 games out in the Wild Card standings, there’s little room for error.
Profar, a 2024 All-Star, may not single-handedly carry the team, but his presence could shift how opposing pitchers approach the Braves’ lineup. His disciplined plate approach — ranking in the 89th percentile in walk rate and 91st in Batting Run Value — adds a much-needed layer of versatility.
Verdugo brought a contact-oriented bat with occasional pop, but ultimately, the Braves need more dynamic production as they try to claw back into playoff contention. For now, that mission will move forward without him.
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