While the 2024 Atlanta Braves will always be remembered for the injuries that never seemed to end, the offense was also plagued by an overaggressive approach at the plate. In one game, Jurickson Profar showed that won’t be the case again, at least while he’s holding the bat.
In his return to San Diego, the Braves big offseason acquisition battled at the plate in every at bat, leading to the 32-year-old tying a franchise record in the pitch tracking era for pitches seen in a nine-inning game.
How Jurickson Profar patience paid off
Leading off the 2025 season, Jurickson Profar only saw three pitches, taking a first pitch called strike, spitting on a ball, and then sneaking a grounder past the first baseman Luis Arraez. The single would eventually lead to the first run of the game, as Profar crossed home on a force out.
When he came up the following inning, the Padres had taken a 2-1 lead. The Padre starter, Michael King was already up to 39 pitches. King quickly got Profar to a 0-2 count, and while he’d eventually punch out his former teammate, it took an additional six pitches to do so, as Profar fouled off three pitches and took two balls.
Two innings later, King was out of the game, but it didn’t stop Profar from battling off pitches. Against Alek Jacob, the left fielder fouled off eight pitches and saw 12 total pitches in the at bat.
His final two at bats both ended with strikeouts, but Profar again made the pitcher work for, seeing a combined 14 pitches in the final two at bats.
On the surface, 1-5 debut with three strikeouts is far from an exciting introduction to make for your new club. However, Profar saw a whooping 37 pitches. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it was. Since pitch tracking became a thing, it tied the franchise record for most pitches seen in a nine-inning game.
no Atlanta Brave has seen more pitches in a single game in regulation in the entire pitch tracking era….37! https://t.co/Mo4uUcTLlA
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 28, 2025
Considering the aggressive approaches of key hitters like Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II, Profar’s ability to see pitches is just what the Braves need to start of the game and wear out the starter early, especially with him leading off games until Ronald Acuña Jr. return from injuries.
While Profar’s approach didn’t end in the results fans would have liked, the ability to fight off pitches is going to give starters fits, and the depth of the Braves lineup might make bullpens shiver.
