Anything Alex Verdugo does hitting leadoff will feel like a miracle compared to what Michael Harris II has (or hasn’t) done in that spot. And while it’s unclear whether Brian Snitker literally told Verdugo, “Get ready to learn how to hit leadoff,” it sure feels like that’s the vibe right now in Braves Country.
Because this is the version of reality we’re living in: the 2025 Atlanta Braves, who were supposed to contend, now look like a team held together by duct tape, hope, and the ghost of Joc Pederson’s pearls.
Let’s recap how we got here:
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Ronald Acuña Jr. is still out recovering from yet another ACL tear.
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Jurickson Profar got busted for PEDs.
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Michael Harris II forgot how to make contact with baseballs.
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Jarred Kelenic looks completely lost.
Enter Alex Verdugo, who was recalled and promptly thrown into the leadoff spot as if this were some kind of experimental rebuild, not the early season of a supposed contender. But when you’re sitting at 5-13, fresh off an embarrassing stint north of the border, you’ll try anything.
Yes, the Braves somehow made it back into the country after that mess in Canada, though no one is quite sure why border control didn’t turn them away out of mercy. Three weeks in, and everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. The vibes? Immaculately terrible.
The Braves kick off a home stand Friday night at Truist Park against the equally lifeless Minnesota Twins. It’s the kind of series that might end in a 0-0 tie if not for a mercy rule.
Alex Verdugo Hitting Leadoff Is… Well, Something
Let’s be honest: I’ll probably end up watching at least some of this game on FanDuel Sports Network, mostly because I hate myself. Somewhere around the 27th out—probably the 20th strikeout of the night—I’ll switch over with my girlfriend and try to finish the last season and a half of The League before our Hulu subscription expires.
At this point, the Braves aren’t competing for a World Series—they’re fighting for The Shiva… and trending more toward The Ruxin. Forever unclean. They’re not even Taco Tuesdays. This is Yobogoya-level baseball. The cheapest bucket of beef, now served nightly at Truist.
A Glimmer of Hope?
In all seriousness (kind of), if Verdugo can bring even a sliver of discipline to the top of the lineup, maybe he can help drag this team out of the gutter. Maybe he even steals Kelenic’s job for the long haul. Acuña will return eventually—but with how this season is going, who could blame him if he thought twice?
So yes, I’m laughing—because otherwise I’d scream. The 2025 Braves are giving off strong Joc Pederson cosplay energy, and if Verdugo really is the second coming, I can’t wait to see if he’s bold enough to wear pearls.
At this point, Braves fans will cling to anything that looks like hope. Even if it’s wrapped in chaos and wearing No. 24.
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