Stuart

Fairchild

Atlanta’s nightmarish start to the 2025 campaign continues. Profar put together an unexpected late-career breakthrough campaign last year with the Padres, which now has some additional context, before signing a three-year, $42 million in the offseason to take over as the Braves’ everyday left fielder. His absence also creates a void in the leadoff spot. The club’s recent outfield additions, most notably Alex Verdugo and Stuart Fairchild, make a lot more sense with Profar set to miss the entire first half of the season. He’s also ineligible for postseason play, if the Braves make it that far. It’ll be some combination of Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz getting the first shot at replacing him in Atlanta’s lineup. It remains to be seen whether the Braves will finally commit to putting Michael Harris II in the leadoff spot. We’ll see.

Fairchild is out of options, so he’ll join the major league club. That seems like bad news for Bryan De La Cruz, who does have options and who fills a similar role as a platoon outfielder against left-handers. It’s possible the Braves could demote Eli White instead, but that seems unlikely. Fairchild, 29, hit just .215/.286/.368 for the Reds last season, but he was still a surprise exclusion from this year’s roster. He’s a lifetime .248/.346/.409 hitter against lefties, and he’s a big defensive upgrade from De La Cruz.

The move opens up a spot on the active roster for Jacob Hurtubise. Fairchild will now hit waivers, and a team looking for a potential bat off the bench could show interest. It’s just as likely — if not more so — that he goes unclaimed and reports to Triple-A Louisville.

The 28-year-old outfielder is sidelined with a left thumb sprain and wasn’t going to make it back before the end of the season, so the Reds decided to move him to the 60-day IL and free up a spot on their 40-man roster to add Evan Kravetz to the bullpen mix on Wednesday. Fairchild should be fully recovered and ready to go for the start of spring training.

Fairchild remains a non-factor for fantasy purposes, but he’s been a valuable bench outfielder for Cincinnati the past couple years. No word yet on his exact return timetable, but he’s probably going to miss at least a couple weeks.

Fairchild pinch-hit for Jake Fraley with the left-handed Garrett Cleavinger on the mound for Tampa Bay. He popped up then but brought the game-winning run around in extras. Fairchild is not an every day player as is and will lose some more playing time with TJ Friedl coming off the injured list.

Fairchild was on the injured list with a spine disc injury. Now that he’s back he should see most of his playing time come against left-handed pitching. The Reds are going to keep playing Rece Hinds everyday and Jake Fraley and Will Benson will both play against right-handed pitching. Edwin Rios was designated for assignment as the corresponding move. Fairchild is hitting .224 with five home runs and 23 RBI in 170 at-bats this year.

Fairchild was placed on the injured list retroactive to July 7 with a spine disc injury. The 28-year-old could end up missing another day or two if there are setbacks, but he should return to the outfield rotation well become the end of July.

That sounds like more than a 10-day thing. Rece Hinds was called up to replace Fairchild, who was seeing regular playing time with TJ Friedl on the injured list. The newly acquired Austin Slater, who isn’t yet on the active roster, will probably take over most of Fairchild’s at-bats.

It doesn’t sound like anything serious that’s going to require a stint on the injured list, but it’s something that fantasy managers should at least monitor heading into next week. The 28-year-old outfielder should be considered day-to-day for the time being.