Braves’ Jurickson Profar Faces 162-Game PED Suspension

Jurickson Profar’s season before it began has taken a dramatic and deeply troubling turn. The Atlanta Braves outfielder has been suspended for the entire 2026 Major League Baseball season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in just over a year, effectively ending his season and casting a shadow over the Braves’ hopes for contention.

The suspension, which amounts to 162 games, was reported Tuesday and confirmed by multiple sources, including ESPN and Atlanta News First. It also renders Profar ineligible for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he had been slated to represent the Netherlands. The 33-year-old Curacao native becomes only the sixth player in MLB history to receive a full-season ban for a repeat PED violation since penalties were stiffened in 2014.

This latest infraction follows an 80-game suspension handed down on March 31, 2025, for testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone often used to boost testosterone production. The current suspension will cost Profar his entire $15 million salary for 2026, and he will forfeit any potential postseason earnings should the Braves qualify.

The news is a significant blow to Atlanta, which is attempting to rebound from a disappointing 76-86 record in 2025. Profar was signed to a three-year, $42 million contract in January 2025 after a stellar All-Star season with the San Diego Padres in 2024, where he hit .280 with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs. Although his 2025 season was disrupted by the initial suspension, limiting him to 80 games upon his return, he still managed a .245/.353/.434 slash line with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs, primarily playing left field.

The Braves are already navigating early-season challenges with injuries to starters Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, both sidelined with elbow issues. Profar’s absence further complicates matters, particularly given his projected role as the team’s primary designated hitter and a key bat near the top of the lineup.

The MLB Players Association is challenging the length of the suspension, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, suggesting a potential dispute over the severity of the penalty. However, even if the challenge is successful, Profar will likely face a substantial ban that will significantly impact the Braves’ 2026 campaign.

With Profar out of the picture, the Braves are scrambling to find a suitable replacement at designated hitter. Currently, Eli White appears to be the best option on the big-league roster, though catcher Sean Murphy and infielder Ha-Seong Kim are expected to return from surgery at some point. The team could also explore options such as Dom Smith, a non-roster invitee to spring training, or consider free agents like Rowdy Tellez, Justin Turner, Wilmer Flores, Tommy Pham, or Jesse Winker. Even Andrew McCutchen, recently released by the Pittsburgh Pirates, could be a possibility.

The suspension of Profar arrives at a time when the Braves were considered by many to be favorites to win the National League East. Projections from FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus both favored Atlanta to win the division, and the team was listed at +190 to win the NL East on DraftKings as of Tuesday. The loss of a key offensive contributor undoubtedly impacts those projections and adds uncertainty to the Braves’ outlook for the season.

The situation underscores the ongoing challenges MLB faces in combating performance-enhancing drugs and maintaining the integrity of the game. Profar’s case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for violating the league’s Joint Drug Agreement and the significant impact such violations can have on both individual players and their teams.

The Braves will now need to rely on their depth and find a way to overcome the loss of a valuable player as they attempt to return to contention in the National League. The road ahead will be more challenging without Profar, but the team remains determined to compete for a playoff berth and a World Series championship.