Jurickson

Profar

According to a league statement, Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone, a performance-enhancing substance. The full-season suspension will cost him the entire 2026 campaign, including the postseason. It’s the second consecutive year that he’s received a PED-related suspension since his age-31 breakthrough campaign with the Padres back in 2024. His absence momentarily frees up the DH spot in Atlanta and the front office could use his $15 million salary to either fortify their starting rotation or beef up their lineup with a veteran slugger in free agency or trade acquisition.

No word yet on what the argument against the suspension will be. We don’t even know yet what Profar tested positive for. The Braves will surely want a quick resolution either way. If Profar is suspended for the season, his $15 million salary would be off the books, and the Braves could use that money to potentially sign a starter (Lucas Giolito?) and a replacement DH/outfielder (Tommy Pham? Andrew McCutchen?).

Profar will get the full-season ban for testing positive for a PED for the second time. The 33-year-old missed 80 games due to suspension in 2025 and hit .243/.353/.434 with 14 homers in his 318 at-bats. Mike Yastrzemski and Eli White seem likely to platoon with Profar unavailable in 2026, but it’s possible Atlanta could look outside the organization.

The procedure required six weeks of recovery time. The 32-year-old outfielder noted that he began feeling discomfort in September and it continued to linger as he started his offseason workout routine. He’s reportedly fully recovered now and enters spring training without any restrictions. Profar hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 homers, 43 RBI and nine stolen bases in 318 at-bats with the Braves during the 2025 season while missing 80 games due to a PED suspension.

Profar drove in Ronald Acuña Jr. with an RBI single off of Cade Horton in the third inning, pulling the Braves to within a run at 2-1. That would be the extent of their offense. Profar has done a nice job for the Braves when on the field this season, slashing .257/.354/.474 with 13 homers, 39 RBI and eight stolen bases in just 291 plate appearances.

Profar took Luis Castillo deep for his 13th home run in 61 games this season. He also has 38 RBI with a .261/.360/.486 slash line in what has been a solid season since coming back from his suspension.

Profar missed three games due to paternity leave earlier this week, but he’s been solid offensively since returning from his suspension. He’s hitting .261 with 44 runs, 12 home runs and 37 RBI in 55 games since returning at the beginning of July. Profar also has eight steals in 59 games this year after stealing a career-high 10 in 158 games last year.

Profar missed three games, resulting in two starts in left field for Eli White and one for Jake Fraley. He figures to go right back into the leadoff spot for the Braves.

Congrats to Profar and his growing family. He will miss up to three games, while Luke Williams and Jake Fraley get extra playing time in his absence.

It’s not going to matter in Profar’s case, but MLB was certainly right to prevent PED-suspended players from taking part in playoff games in the year in which they were banned. Profar is all of the way up to .267/.377/.500 in 247 plate appearances. He has more homers (12) in 53 games this season that he had in 125 games two years ago (nine) or in 193 games between 2020 and ’21 (11).