The Miami Marlins played the Atlanta Braves in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Truist Park. The Braves jumped to an early lead, looking poised for victory. However, a remarkable defensive play in the middle of the game quickly drew comparisons to one of the year’s best outfield catches.

In the fourth inning, Marlins DH Agustin Ramirez faced an 87-mph splitter from Hurston Waldrep. The ball soared toward left field, looking like it might be a home run. But the Braves outfielder tracked it perfectly, jumped at the right moment, and caught it just before it fell into the bullpen.

That outfielder was Jurickson Profar. He returned in July and has a batting average of .238 with a .484 on-base percentage over seven games. He signed a $42 million contract in the winter of 2024 that runs through 2026, with an option for 2027. However, some fans still remember his 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s drug rules in March. So, when Jomboymedia and talkinbaseball_ shared the catch reel on Instagram, with the caption, “JURICKSON PROFAR ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!” many took a direct dig at his PED suspension despite the great play.

Interestingly, the Home run robbery immediately reminded everyone of Oakland A’s outfielder Denzel Clarke’s viral catch from earlier this season, which was a mix of instinct, agility, and flair. But, it wasn’t just a nice highlight for the Braves. It was a momentum booster that helped them win Game 1 by a score of 7-1 and Game 2 by 8-6. This brought their record to 50-67 for the season and kept their NL East pursuit alive.

Brian Snitker, the manager of the Braves, couldn’t disguise how much he liked the play. He praised both the athleticism and the awareness behind it. He stated, “It was a great catch, how he just kind of [tracked] that thing down. Honestly, when he hit it, I thought it was [going to] be in the upper deck. He stayed right with it. I was like, ‘You’re going to be watching that on TV for 24 hours.'” While the manager was happy and Profar seemed happy as well. The voices on social media are not very amused with his defensive play.

Suspicion meets awe — Jurickson Profar dragged for PEDs

When the reel hit Instagram, it created a stage for a wave of fan responses. And the first wave of criticism came swiftly and brutally. “PEDs kicking in.” This wasn’t simply a casual jab. It was a pointed reference to Profar’s suspension when he tested positive for HCG.

Another fan added to the criticism with sharp sarcasm: “Flexing as if he wasn’t just suspended for PEDs 💀.” The fan focused on Profar’s celebration when he caught the ball. Celebrations after huge plays are a big part of the game, but if a player has been suspended recently, it might be seen as arrogance.

Amid the skepticism, some fans turned to nostalgia with “Denzel Clarke still has it.” Remember how in June 2025, Oakland A’s Denzel Clarke jumped over the outfield wall to steal a home run from Nolan Schanuel. That catch was considered one of the best in MLB history.

And the comparison continued. “Denzel was better but that’s still insane. Very cool.” This fan praised both Profar’s great catch and Clarke’s earlier great plays at the same time. But clearly he liked Denzel’s play. Which one do you like?

And then there came the statement that was both caustic and playful: “80 games worth of action right there.” It’s a backhanded compliment! Profar has been on fire lately; he hit a homer on Friday. And now, this amazing wall-climbing play adds another exciting chapter to his story. He’s not just back; he’s turning out to be a big help for the Braves.

Whether it was a great show of skill or a controversial point of contention, Saturday’s masterpiece will be remembered by Braves fans for a long time. Profar’s jump wasn’t simply to steal a home run. It was also a great show of his athleticism after the suspension.