Dodgers' Trolling Apparently Awoke Padres' Jurickson Profar

Maren Angus-Coombs | May 3, 2024

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Only one member of the San Diego Padres ranks in the top 10 in the major leagues in batting average and on-base percentage, and the top 20 in slugging percentage.

Since the Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith described San Diego's Jurickson Profar as "irrelevant," he has become the best player on the Padres. In 17 games post-diss, he is slashing .362/.441/.517. The diss was inspired by Profar’s reaction to an inside pitch on April 13, which sparked a benches-clearing incident. His teammates agree.

“He’s been our best player,” Fernando Tatis Jr. told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Quoted in the same article, Manny Machado agreed.

“He’s leading this team,” Machado said.

Profar drove in three runs with a double in the Padres' win over the Dodgers the day following the incident and has stayed hot ever since.

Will Smith told us this on the postgame show about the Profar drama in the 4th inning:

"I don't know why we would have thrown at him...he's kind of irrelevant. " #Dodgers #Padres #DodgersRadio

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 14, 2024

Profar enters Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks slashing .342/.431/.523, leading the Padres by 73 points in batting average, 88 points in OBP, and 53 points in slugging percentage. He's batting .360 with runners in scoring position and his .444 average with runners on base is 126 points higher than his next teammate. He also leads the team with four game-winning RBIs.

Profar has become one of the best stories in Major League Baseball. The 31-year-old has played in parts of nine big league seasons the most he will cost the Padres this season, if he reaches 600 plate appearances, is $2.5 million.

“I always expect myself to play like this,” Profar said. “I didn’t do it before. But right now I am. I’m this player, man. I am.”

The Padres know they can't rely on Profar all season. Eventually, other guys will have to step up. Xander Bogaerts is batting .217/.284/.287, Machado .250/.302/.383 and Tatis .233/.324/.426. While they wait for their stars to come around, the Padres will ride Profar's hot hand – and maybe wait for another opponent's harsh words to provide motivation.