Yesterday the Atlanta Braves announced that they have signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million dollar contract. Profar’s primary position is left field, but he can play almost anywhere on defense including shortstop, and earlier today The Morning Shift explained how Jurickson could turn into the Braves’ everyday shortstop if Orlando Arcia struggles to begin the 2025 season.
Beau Morgan talked about a scenario where if Jarred Kelenic and Profar both start off the season hot, and Arcia gets off to a slow start, instead of benching a hot Jarred Kelenic, bench the slumping Arcia and letting Jurickson play shortstop.
“I’d like to have everybody playing well, but if Orlando Arcia is not and Kelenic is, why do you have to bench Kelenic, because why can’t you move Profar to short, and then if you want to have a defensive adjustment late in the game you can put Arcia in and either keep Kelenic in or move Profar to the outfield.” Beau said.
If Beau’s scenario does come to fruition Profar probably wouldn’t be as good defensively as Arcia is at shortstop, but if his bat is hot he would definitely be an upgrade at the plate. Jurickson had a career year last season hitting .280/.380/.459 with a career-high 24 home runs and 85 RBIs.
Jurickson, once the top prospect in all of baseball, made his first All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger all on a one-year, $1 million deal with the San Diego Padres last season. Now, he has cashed in with the Atlanta Braves, deservedly so, and if Orlando Arcia struggles to start the 2025 campaign, Profar could find himself being the Braves’ everyday shortstop.