Major League Baseball Drops the Hammer on Braves Veteran
In a stunning development that rocks the Atlanta Braves clubhouse, outfielder Jurickson Profar has been handed a season-long suspension by Major League Baseball. The league confirmed Tuesday that Profar, a key offseason acquisition, has been banned for 162 games after testing positive for a banned substance for the second time in under a year.
The suspension, first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, represents the maximum penalty under MLB's Joint Drug Agreement for a second offense. Profar will immediately be removed from the Braves' spring training complex and is ineligible to return for the entirety of the 2025 regular season.
A Costly Mistake
The financial and competitive ramifications are severe. Profar will forfeit his entire $15 million salary for the upcoming season, a massive sum that underscores the gravity of the violation. Furthermore, he is barred from participating in any postseason games should the Braves make a playoff run, and he has been ruled out for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he was slated to represent the Netherlands.
This marks a devastating repeat offense for the 33-year-old. Just last season, Profar served an 80-game suspension after testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that can boost testosterone production. At the time of that suspension, Profar issued a statement vehemently denying any intentional wrongdoing.
"It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it," Profar said in 2025. He has maintained that stance, claiming the positive test was not the result of a conscious decision to break the rules. However, MLB's policy is strict, and a second violation triggers the automatic, full-season ban.
Braves React With Shock and Disappointment
The Braves organization released a brief statement expressing their surprise at the news. "We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn of Jurickson's suspension," the statement read. "Our organization fully supports Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. We are hopeful Jurickson will learn from this experience."
The loss of Profar creates a significant hole in Atlanta's outfield and batting order. Signed just last January to a three-year, $42 million deal, Profar was expected to be a major contributor. He has one year and $15 million remaining on his contract following this suspended season.
According to Passan's reporting, Profar becomes just the sixth player since 2014 to receive the 162-game ban for a second PED offense, a penalty tier instituted a decade ago to deter repeat violations. The news was also confirmed by other industry insiders, including Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
For the Braves, the focus now shifts abruptly from spring training optimism to damage control. The team must reconfigure its outfield plans and find a way to replace the production they counted on from a veteran player now sidelined for the entire year. For Jurickson Profar, a promising chapter of his career has been put on hold by a decision that will define his legacy and cost him millions.
