Looking back at the Atlanta Braves' 2025 season, there is no shortage of players who could have a finger pointed in their direction when it comes to who deserves blame. From the front office down to the final piece of the roster, it was a consistent organizational failure with very few exceptions. This included important roster pieces that, despite not being the face of the franchise, serve important roles if the Braves were going to live up to their expected potential.
With this in mind, let's take a look at three underrated Braves pieces who are going to need to turn things around in 2026 for the team to return to postseason relevance. Starting with an outfielder who has a lot of making up to do after missing the bulk of the previous season.
1. Jurickson Profar
Profar's early-season suspension in 2025 set the stage for the collapse that led Atlanta to lose seven straight. The veteran outfielder's choice to violate the league's banned substance list took away the biggest offseason addition for 80 games. After returning, Profar went on a tear in August, hitting nine homers and offering a .295 average, flashing his potential. This was followed by an underwhelming final month of the season when Profar struggled to hit at the Mendoza line.
With this in mind, Profar has a lot of making up to do, not only for the late-season struggles but for the suspension that led to Atlanta's slide. Profar doesn't have to be the force he was in August, but find a middle ground between being an automatic out and unstoppable. Most importantly, Profar needs to be available and give the Braves the benefit of working with their starting outfield for most of the 2026 season.
Profar is a career .245 hitter, but has never played with a lineup as talented as the one the Braves will offer the veteran in the 2026 season. This sets up what should be a bounce-back season for the starting left fielder.
2. Raisel Igesias
Atlanta's closer was re-signed but put on notice when the Braves signed Robert Suarez for a setup role. The former Padre has experience as a closer and is ready to step in if Iglesias isn't able to return to the player he was after the All-Star break. Before the break, Iglesias gave up 18 earned runs and was consistently giving up hard contact, appearing to be nearing the end of his tenure with the Braves. Instead, the closer recaptured his job and finished the rest of the way with a 1.76 ERA and recaptured his past dominance.
Still, there is reason for frustration with just how awful the veteran reliever was at the start of the season. Atlanta needs their closer to put together a consistent year, allowing Suarez to stay in a setup role and the bullpen to realize its full potential.
Having a reliable bullpen is an asset the team has missed over the last two seasons and is hoping to recapture after a busy offseason. This won't be the case if Iglesias struggles again and stretches the Braves' depth yet again.
3. Michael Harris
Things were so dark offensively for Harris at one point in the 2025 season that it seemed the Braves needed to demote the star center fielder. This is a huge concern when you realize just how valuable Harris' glove has been, coupled with how awful things must be offensively to consider robbing the defense of this with a possible demotion. Harris is a career .274 hitter and only managed to hit .210 before the All-Star Break.
Pointing to just how concerning things were for Harris was his .148 June batting average that begged Atlanta to consider making a change. Instead, former manager Brian Snitker stuck it out, and Harris was back to himself by the end of the season. Still, there is no defending the level of play in the first three months of the season, and why the Braves need Harris to play at a far higher level to begin the season.
The center fielder is simply far too talented to hold back Atlanta's offense at this level and is going to need to live up to expectations for the team to return to postseason relevance.