“He’s going to have loads of time,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “He’s had quite a lot of at-bats [in Minor League games]. He’s going to must run across the outfield to get his legs prepared. It’s what it’s. It’s going to must work.”
Profar didn’t present any indicators of rust as he delivered a leadoff double within the Braves’ 7-0 win over the Phillies Thursday afternoon at CoolToday Park. He later singled to proper within the fifth for his second hit whereas enjoying for the primary time since he rolled his left wrist whereas trying to make a sliding catch towards the Pirates on March 8.
It will have been good for Profar to expertise an uninterrupted Spring Coaching as he prepares to play after becoming a member of the Braves with a three-year, $42 million deal in January. However contemplating the preliminary concern felt when he injured his wrist, lacking a few weeks of Spring Coaching video games was an optimum end result.
“I’m pleased, very pleased,” Profar mentioned. “When it occurred, I assumed it will be worse.”
Profar was cleared to start taking batting follow on Sunday and he has since compiled at-bats towards Minor Leaguers on the again fields. He collected seven at-bats throughout a recreation performed on Wednesday.
Snitker mentioned Profar will seemingly be within the lineup for every of the three video games the Braves will play earlier than leaving Florida on Sunday. He’ll then be slated to play in each exhibition video games scheduled towards the Cubs in Arizona subsequent week. It will enable him to tally roughly 15 plate appearances earlier than enjoying towards his former Padres teammates on Opening Day.
Profar fueled San Diego’s run into the playoffs whereas hitting a career-high 24 homers and establishing an .839 OPS final 12 months. He batted .380 and had a .451 on-base proportion in 83 plate appearances as a leadoff hitter. These numbers are the product of a small pattern dimension from a career-best season, nevertheless it must be famous that he constructed a .333 OBP over the 405 plate appearances he compiled because the Padres’ leadoff hitter in 2022.
Braves leadoff hitters produced only a .306 OBP from Might 27 (the day after Acuña tore his left anterior cruciate ligament) by the top of final season. Acuña had a .351 OBP final 12 months and Jorge Soler had a .400 OBP in 55 plate appearances from the leadoff spot. However a majority of the leadoff duties had been dealt with by Michael Harris II (.321 OBP in 215 PA) and Jarred Kelenic (.291 OBP in 180 PA).
Because of this having a wholesome and productive Profar could possibly be a big profit for the Braves till they welcome Acuña again to the lineup and the leadoff function in Might.
NERIS TAKES NEXT STEPHéctor Neris additional strengthened his Opening Day roster bid when he labored a scoreless inning to start Thursday’s recreation towards the Phillies. Neris signed a Minor League contract with the Braves just a few weeks after Spring Coaching started. The veteran reliever has allowed one hit over the 2 innings accomplished in two appearances.
Neris, who posted a 1.71 ERA in 71 appearances for Houston in 2023, could have time to make a pair extra spring appearances. However barring an damage, he’ll seemingly be in Atlanta’s bullpen on Opening Day.
“He has expertise and he’s been in massive roles,” Snitker mentioned. “ he can do it. You simply take a look at his stuff. It’s been good.”
Enyel De Los Santos and Neris are relievers who may each safe spots as non-roster invitees. The Braves opened two spots on their 40-man roster by sending their two Rule 5 picks again to their former organizations. Proper-handed reliever Anderson Pilar was despatched again to the Marlins and shortstop Christian Cairo was despatched again to the Guardians.
IMPRESSIVE OUTINGWhen Spencer Schwellenbach struck out 10 over six scoreless innings towards a powerful Yankees lineup on Wednesday, he once more confirmed he may be at his finest when going through one of the best.
“That’s past simply Spring Coaching,” Snitker mentioned. “You take a look at the stuff and the way he went about it. That’s fairly good at any time of the season.”
Schwellenbach highlighted final 12 months’s rookie season by producing a 1.72 ERA within the eight begins he mixed to make towards Nationwide League playoff groups — Mets (3), Phillies (3), Dodgers (1) and Padres (1). His season debut may come on March 29 in San Diego.
