Braves Designate Alex Verdugo for Assignment as Profar Returns

Atlanta, GA — The Atlanta Braves have designated outfielder Alex Verdugo for assignment to make space for Jurickson Profar, who is returning from an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. This decision was reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on July 2, 2025.

Verdugo, 29, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Braves late in the offseason. Initially, he fulfilled a secondary role behind another player but soon became a starter as his teammate struggled. Although Verdugo began his time in Atlanta with a strong performance, hitting .322 in his first 65 plate appearances, his production sharply declined thereafter.

Since May 6, Verdugo has posted a low batting average of .203 with only three extra-base hits in 148 at-bats. His overall performance this season fell short, as he ended with a .239 average and a .585 OPS over 56 games.

Verdugo’s time with Atlanta has reflected his recent career struggles. Over the past two seasons, he has tallied 834 plate appearances while batting .234, significantly lower than his previous averages with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox from 2019 to 2023.

In addition, his defensive skills have shown decline, with a slightly positive Defensive Runs Saved mark of +1 this season — a stark contrast to his previous years. He also ranks in the lower percentiles for sprint speed among MLB players.

The Braves now shift their focus to Profar, who signed a three-year contract worth $42 million with the team and is expected to provide more stability after his return. For Verdugo, this marks another chapter in his challenging career as he seeks a new team.