{
  "id": 15484222,
  "title": "Jurickson Profar will play Winter Ball in Venezuela during upcoming offseason",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/jurickson-profar-will-play-winter-ball-in-venezuela-during-upcoming",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-18T20:17:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jurickson-profar-play-winter-ball-201735002.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - February 20 saw Jurickson Profar, now a member of the Atlanta Braves, featured in a Spring Training photo at CoolToday Park. This post highlights the athlete's recent history, including a PED-usage scandal that forced him to miss the entire 2026 season without pay, leaving the Braves without a potential DH bat. Profar's return to the team in 2027 was uncertain, as President/GM Alex Anthopoulos did not explicitly confirm his inclusion for the following season. Lindsay Crosby first reported that Profar would participate in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason, a move Alec Crosby believed could be a form of \"goodwill assignment\" for Profar to rebuild his relationship with teammates. Profar's 2025 season numbers, .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs and a .346 wOBA, demonstrate his potential, but his PED issues still linger. He expressed dissatisfaction with serving as the Braves' designated hitter and may either play outfield in Venezuela or focus on hitting only for a better chance to fit into the lineup. Regardless, this step aims to restore trust with the Braves, as Anthopoulos hinted at Profar's uncertain future with the team.",
  "summary": "He’s still with the Braves (for now at least) and he’ll now be playing Winter Ball for a team that’s familiar to Atlanta",
  "key_points": [
    "Jurickson Profar to play Winter Ball in Venezuela.",
    "2026 season lost due to PED scandal.",
    "Aim to rebuild relationship with Braves."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}