Atlanta Braves star Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension from Main League Baseball after his second performance-enhancing medication violation in a 12 months.
Jurickson Profar in motion for the Atlanta Braves (Picture: Getty)
Jurickson Profar entered 2026 with the Atlanta Braves anticipating a contemporary begin, however now faces suspension for repeating the very offence that value him 80 matches throughout his debut marketing campaign with the franchise. Atlanta’s skilled outfielder and designated hitter faces a 162-match ban following his second performance-enhancing drug violation inside a 12 months.
The punishment appears him banned for a complete regular-season and post-season whereas he loses his $15million (£11.2m) Braves wage for 2026, and is ineligible to signify the Netherlands on the 2026 World Baseball Traditional. The MLB Gamers Affiliation was anticipated to lodge an enchantment, however the league’s dealing with of repeat offenders is seldom lenient or easy to overturn in favour of an MLB star.
Profar was set to offer a switch-hitting choice for the Braves who might patrol the outfield corners and performance as a matchup bat. The Braves now face an instantaneous roster emptiness with no certainty of a swift answer.
Mike Yastrzemski and Profar are the only real two left fielders on the squad’s roster, alongside 4 non-roster invitees for spring coaching and 11 complete non-registered outfielders.
Second baseman Mauricio Dubon, centre fielder Dashawn Keirsey Jr, and veteran Jose Azocar comprise the rest of the depth.
ESPN’s Braves depth chart identifies Yastrzemski because the anticipated starter, with Eli Ellis serving as his understudy, although neither featured within the high 100 for batting common, house runs or RBI final season. Azocar’s statistics reveal modest offensive capabilities, managing simply two house runs throughout 5 campaigns.
Profar’s inaugural marketing campaign with the Braves in 2025 was curtailed by an 80-match ban after testing optimistic for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). He returned on July 2 and featured in 80 matches, recording a .245 batting common and .787 OPS alongside 14 house runs and 43 RBIs.
His output proved enough to remind Main League Baseball franchises why he stays harmful in any batting order, and was spectacular sufficient to safe a 2024 All-Star choice and a Silver Slugger honour. Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies described Profar as MLB’s “largest prospect” from Curacao.
He was previously the No. 1 general prospect on rankings and made his debut aged 19 in 2012.
He subsequently spent years trying to reside as much as expectations throughout spells with the Texas Rangers, Athletics, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, and, latterly, the Braves.
Profar’s maiden All-Star recognition and Silver Slugger contributed to securing his three-year, $42m contract with Atlanta in January 2025. Atlanta faces a choice whether or not to exchange Profar with an skilled participant, conduct an early commerce, or rely on its restricted left-field choices.
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Profar will likely be left to contest the enchantment, endure the media’s public criticism and confront the hostility of rival MLB supporters. He challenged his preliminary suspension and was unsuccessful final March.
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