Image Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Braves sign Jurickson Profar to a three-year contract

Profar posted a .280 batting average, hit 24 home runs, and drove in 85 RBIs in 158 games, earning his first All-Star Game selection.

Image Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Outfielder Jurickson Profar, one of the standout players for the San Diego Padres last season, has signed a three-year deal worth $42 million with the Atlanta Braves.

Profar was one of the biggest bargains in last season’s free agency, when he signed with the Padres for just $1 million. He started 2023 with the Colorado Rockies but finished the year with the Padres, where he had the best performance of his career. He posted a .280 batting average, hit 24 home runs, and drove in 85 RBIs in 158 games, earning his first All-Star Game selection.

This performance solidified the high expectations that have followed him since his rise through the minor leagues. In 2013, he was named the top MLB prospect. However, a shoulder injury that kept him out for the entire 2014 season hindered the start of his career. He only became a regular starter with the Texas Rangers in 2018 before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2019.

Welcome to Atlanta, Jurickson! @JURICKSONPROFAR | #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/Xi1pagSjhm
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 23, 2025

During his first stint with the Padres, from 2020 to 2022, Profar began to show the talent that was expected, especially in the pandemic-shortened season when he posted a career-best OPS+ of 114. However, in 2024, he surpassed all previous milestones.

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While there are uncertainties about his ability to maintain his 2024 performance, the Braves are betting on his potential. If Profar can replicate last season’s level of play, he could become a key player for the team. In a free-agent market with few impactful options, the signing of Profar seems like a relatively low-risk move for Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves

Jurickson Profar

The Playoffs News Team