When the Atlana Braves signed Jurickson Profar this offseason, they hoped that he’d provide the team with much needed depth in the middle of the lineup. Instead, the switch-hitting outfielder was popped for PEDs and has missed half the season.
With his absence, the braves leftfielders have been among the worst in baseball, while the middle of the lineup has struggled through the entire season.
While Brian Snitker had previously announced where Profar will hit in the lineup once he returns, that was before he started slotting in Matt Olson second.
With Olson now hitting in the two-hole, Profar will likely move down.
Projecting the Braves lineup when Jurickson Profar returns
While Brian Snitker could certainly follow through on his initial plan by penciling in Profar behind Ronald Acuña Jr. once the 32-year-old is eligible to come off the restricted list, it’s also just as likely that he keeps his two best hitters at the top of the lineup.
If Acuña and Olson take the first two spots in the lineup, the Braves manager has a lot of room to play with.
Marcell Ozuna has had an ice cold June, while Austin Riley has been mediocre at best this month. Instead of keeping one of these two hitting third, Snitker has the option of putting Profar here.
Last year, Profar the second-most PAs out of the three-hole for the Padres, and slashed .304/.406/.440 in that spot. Since the longtime manager has an affinity for splits that don’t actually any predictability.
With Profar third, the Braves lineup could fill out with Ozuna and Riley filling out the top five spots.
Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy will likely hit sixth, followed by Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Nick Allen.
Ronald Acuña Jr. RF
Matt Olson 1B
Jurickson Profar LF
Marcell Ozuna DH
Austin Riley 3B
Drake Baldwin/Sean Murphy C
Ozzie Albies 2B
Michael Harris II CF
Nick Allen SS
While this lineup won’t save the Braves offense, it will likely give the club much more strength at the top of the lineup and out of the left field spot than they’ve gotten the entire season.
