After serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that helps in the production of testosterone, Jurickson Profar is now eligible to return to the Atlanta Braves lineup tonight. Everyone in the Braves’ organization and all Braves fans are hoping Profar’s return will spark Atlanta’s slumping offense, and earlier today The Morning Shift talked about what the Braves’ big free agent acquisition needs to do to spark their anemic offense.
“I need good at bats, just give some good at bats.” Beau Morgan said
Mike Johnson believes Profar needs to “hit the ground running”.
“If you’re gonna take 80 games off because you got suspended for PED use I’m gonna say you probably need to hit the ground running, like I’m not gonna give you any extended leash in terms of my expectations for him coming to the plate tonight”. Mike said
Profar dominated during his time in Triple-A while he was getting ready for his return to the big leagues. Jurickson finished his 13-game stint with the Gwinnett Stripers batting .333 with a .990 OPS, three home runs, six total base hits, and nine RBIs. He also batted .375 with a .687 slugging over his last five games.
Obviously, against Major League pitching the expectation isn’t to do what he did in Triple-A, but with the rhythm Profar has been able to get himself into over the last couple of weeks there’s no reason he shouldn’t come back hitting the ground running, and quite frankly the Braves’ offense can’t afford for him not to hit the ground running in his return tonight with the way their offense has struggled.