The Atlanta Braves are set to be without designated hitter Jurickson Profar for the entire 2026 season after he reportedly tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in less than a year, reports Baltimore Chronicle via Yahoo. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the 33-year-old is facing a 162-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s policy for repeat PED violations.
Profar was previously disciplined on March 31 last year after testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin, a substance prohibited under MLB rules. The hormone, typically produced during pregnancy, can in men stimulate testosterone production. That violation resulted in an 80-game suspension during the 2025 season and rendered him ineligible for postseason play. The Braves ultimately failed to reach the playoffs that year, ending an eight-year streak of postseason appearances.
The new violation carries significantly harsher consequences under league regulations. Since 2014, MLB has mandated a full-season, 162-game suspension for players who commit a second PED offense. Profar is among only six players to receive such a penalty since the policy was strengthened. Prior to him, the most recent case involved Milwaukee Brewers reliever J.C. Mejia, who was suspended in September 2023, according to ESPN.
In addition to being barred from all 2026 regular-season games, Profar will also be ineligible for postseason competition should Atlanta qualify. Passan further reported that the suspension extends to international play, making Profar unavailable for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. He had been expected to represent the Netherlands roster, which features several players from his native Curaçao.
Financially, the suspension will cost Profar his entire $15 million salary for the 2026 campaign. He has one season remaining on the three-year, $42 million contract he signed with Atlanta following a standout 2024 year with the San Diego Padres. That season earned him an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award.
After serving his initial 80-game suspension in 2025, Profar returned to action and appeared in 80 games overall, including four played before the first ban. He concluded the year with a .245 batting average, a .353 on-base percentage and a .434 slugging percentage. Across those appearances, he hit 14 home runs and drove in 43 runs.
His 2024 performance with the Padres marked one of the most productive stretches of his career. Profar posted career-best numbers in several offensive categories, including a .280 batting average, a .380 on-base percentage and an .839 OPS. He also set personal highs with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs that season.
Profar debuted in Major League Baseball at age 19 with the Texas Rangers. Early injuries slowed his development, and over the years he played for multiple clubs, including the Rangers (2012–13, 2016–18), the Athletics (2019), the Padres (2020–22), the Colorado Rockies (2023) and the Padres again (2023–24), before signing with Atlanta.
The Braves are entering 2026 already facing roster challenges. Last season began with a 0–7 start amid a series of injuries, and even before the first regular-season game this year, Atlanta has lost Profar along with starting pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, both of whom underwent elbow surgery.
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