The Atlanta Braves (63–77) are out of the playoff race this season, but the club continues to make moves with an eye toward 2026. On Thursday, the team reinstated outfielder Jurickson Profar from the paternity list, which in turn pushed infielder Luke Williams off the roster. Williams was designated for assignment after three seasons in Atlanta.

Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract this past offseason, was expected to be a key piece of the Braves’ playoff push. Instead, his season was derailed almost immediately when he received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance just four games into his Braves tenure.

By the time Profar returned, the Braves were well out of contention, and his absence had already been felt. His first game back at Truist Park drew a mix of boos and cheers from the home crowd, but since then the veteran has worked to win fans back. In 58 games, Profar has batted .258 with a .362 on-base percentage, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, and an .834 OPS.

Williams, meanwhile, had primarily been used as a pinch-runner. Over three years with the Braves, he managed just a .153 average and a .427 OPS, making Thursday’s decision an unsurprising one. The Braves also announced that RHP Daysbel Hernández was recalled, RHP Cal Quantrill was released, and RHP Wander Suero was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.

Profar is expected to be back in the lineup Friday against the Seattle Mariners. Atlanta also recently claimed Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. Kim and Profar were teammates with the San Diego Padres last season, where they helped spark a postseason run. The Braves are hoping that reunion can help fuel a much quicker rebound in 2026.