Major League Baseball announced that the Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar suspended 162 games after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, a performance-enhancing substance. The ban goes into effect Friday and will last through the 2026 season, including the playoffs. It’s the second PED suspension for Profar, who missed 80 games last year after testing positive for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Players Association plans to file an appeal to challenge the suspension. MLB typically does not announce drug policy violations until after the appeal process has played out, as the player is usually allowed to continue playing pending that appeal. Rosenthal writes that Profar’s suspension, in contrast, is not permanent because it is his second PED ban. However, the process will be expedited to reach a final decision as soon as possible.
It is not uncommon for a player’s PED suspension to be overturned on appeal. Given the suspension, Profar will not be paid his $15MM salary this season. The player from Curacao is also not allowed to represent the Netherlands in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
“We are deeply disappointed to learn that Jurickson tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance and violated MLB’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the Braves said in a statement. “Our players are always taught about the Program and the consequences if they are found to be breaking the law.”
Profar, who turned 33 a few weeks ago, was entering the second season of a three-year, $42MM contract. Last year’s suspension cost him just under $6MM of his $12MM salary in one year of that free agent deal. He is signed through the 2027 season and is owed $15MM in salary in the final year of the contract. If he scored a third good test in his career, he would receive a lifetime ban.
As a teenager, Profar was considered the top prospect in every game. A button-hitting shortstop with an incredible combination of power, speed and defensive ability, he was hailed as a future star but saw his career hampered by repeated shoulder injuries. He missed almost all of the 2014 and 2015 campaigns due to shoulder surgery.
The version of Profar that came back looked very different. He hit .227/.316/.315 in 377 MLB plate appearances from 2016-17 before turning in a strong offensive season in 2018. His defense at shortstop was inevitable following shoulder problems. Profar spent time at second base and first base before being traded to the A’s, who only had him for one disappointing year before trading him to the Padres.
Profar has had an up and down run in San Diego. He had a rough start to the shortened 2020 season before three weeks to complete a 60-game season saved his streak. A clear favorite of Padres GM AJ Preller – who signed him as a rookie international during his days as Rangers assistant GM – Profar signed a three-year contract after that season but slashed .227/.329/.320 in the first year of the contract. He chose to forego the option to opt out, returned to San Diego for the 2022 season, switched to a better offensive line and opted out at $6.5MM to re-test the open market.
Free agency was cold to Profa that winter. He ended up signing with the Rockies just before Opening Day 2023 on a $7.75MM deal. Colorado released Profar after he hit just .236/.316/.364 in 111 games. He re-signed with San Diego for the rest of the season and hit 14 games late that year. Profar spent the entire offseason spinning in the air of free agency before the Padres brought him on board in a one-year, $1MM deal that looked like an offseason steal when he exploded with a .280/.380/459 batting line in a career-best showing.
That performance inspired the Braves’ three-year, $42MM deal, but now it will forever be met with a healthy dose of skepticism. Profar missed 80 games last year, hitting .248/.358/.446 in 355 plate appearances in his return, and now won’t appear at the plate again until at least 2027. Of course, it remains to be seen if the Braves will accept him or look to move on entirely.
That question does not need to be answered yet. Profar can and will be placed on the restricted list, where he will not be paid or counted against Atlanta’s 40-man roster. The Braves will not only save on Profar’s $15MM salary – they’ll also avoid the 20% tax they were paying him as a team that was above the comfort zone. That’s up to $18MM in total savings for Atlanta, giving the Braves some incredible opportunities late in the season.
Atlanta suffered significant injuries in the rotation. Rights Spencer Schwellenbach again Hurston Waldrep both had elbow surgery to remove loose bodies/loose bone. It’s unclear at this point when they will return, but Schwellenbach is already on the 60-day IL and Waldrep is sure to follow.
Let the Warriors stay like that Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez (who started just one year ago due to shoulder surgery) and Grant Holmes (who had a UCL tear last summer and had it repaired without surgery) in the top four areas of the rotation. Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, Didier Fuentes again Jose Suarez they are the fifth-round draft picks on the 40-man roster. Invitees not listed include veterans Martin Perez, Carlos Carrasco again Elieser Hernandezand high hopes JR Ritchie.
Notable veterans love it Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell again Tyler Anderson remain unsigned in free agency. Atlanta’s outfield team, of course, is taking over following Profar’s suspension, even though the team signed him in November. Mike Yastrzemski means the Braves won’t do that the need adding another foreign player. Yastrzemski, Michael Harris II again Ronald Acuña Jr. could start in most days, although Acuña has had his share of recent injury problems and Yastrzemski has lingering platoon problems. They are not good hitters Eli White again Jorge Mateo they’re already listed as potential complements, but they don’t even have average career numbers against left-handed pitching.
Atlanta still projects to be just north of the $244MM comfort limit, but the front office suddenly has a lot of money that could be used to acquire more help, either another starting pitcher or a veteran right-handed bat to plug the roster. Time will tell if those funds are spent immediately or saved for offseason additions to the roster, but the Braves are quickly becoming a team to watch for potential late-season additions.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported that Profar was facing a 162-game PED ban. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Dyer, Imagn Images.
