Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is confronting a severe 162-game suspension following a reported second positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, as disclosed by ESPN on Tuesday. This disciplinary action, if officially confirmed, will result in Profar forfeiting his entire $15 million salary for the 2026 season and render him ineligible for the upcoming postseason and the World Baseball Classic, where he was scheduled to represent the Netherlands.
Profar's Career and Previous Suspension
Profar, aged 33, previously served an 80-game suspension from March 31 to July 1 last season after testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that can enhance testosterone production. This latest violation marks him as the sixth player to incur a full-season ban since Major League Baseball intensified penalties for repeat offenders in 2014.
Contract and Performance Details
In January 2025, Profar inked a three-year, $42 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. During his inaugural season with the team, he posted a batting average of .245, alongside 14 home runs and 43 RBIs across 80 games. His career, spanning multiple teams including the Texas Rangers, Oakland A's, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, and Braves, totals 1,199 games with a .245 average, 125 homers, and 487 RBIs.
Injury History and Prospects
Profar's professional journey has been marred by persistent injuries, limiting him to over 150 games in a season only twice. He missed the entire 2014 and 2015 campaigns due to a shoulder injury and recently underwent sports hernia surgery in the offseason, with plans to transition from left field to designated hitter this year.
Notably, Profar debuted in MLB with the Texas Rangers at age 19 in 2012 as baseball's top prospect and earned his first All-Star selection with the Padres in 2024. His career, once brimming with promise, now faces significant setbacks due to these repeated doping violations.
