The Atlanta Braves are dealing with a significant setback as outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for the full 162-game 2026 MLB season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug (PED) for the second time. The announcement, made on March 3 by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, means Profar will miss the entire regular season and the World Baseball Classic, where he was slated to represent the Netherlands.
This development adds to the Braves’ turbulent start to 2026, coming even before the regular season begins. Profar, 33, had already served an 80-game suspension in 2025, making him just the sixth player in MLB history to receive a year-long ban for PED use.
Public Backlash Intensifies Over Profar’s Repeat PED Offense
The response to Profar’s suspension was immediate and sharp. David O’Brien, a former Braves beat writer, expressed his frustration bluntly, criticizing Profar’s decision to risk his career after already serving a suspension.
“Only an idiot gets busted twice for PEDs, especially when he already has a long-term contract. Can’t wait to hear the excuse this time,”
O’Brien said.
Profar’s initial suspension in 2025 came after testing positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone linked to increased testosterone production. At that time, Profar defended himself strongly, stating,
“It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it.”
However, concerns over his commitment to staying clean resurfaced when WSB-TV reporter Alison Mastrangelo asked him during spring training if he had taken steps to avoid another PED violation.
“I asked Profar this spring if he did anything this offseason to make sure that mix-up (in regards to PEDs) that happened before never happens again,”
Mastrangelo explained. “He said ‘Yes. Yes.’”
Ultimately, that assurance proved insufficient as Profar’s second violation unfolded, further straining the team’s reputation and roster stability.
Braves Face Multiple Roster Challenges Alongside Profar’s Suspension
Profar’s absence is the latest in a series of difficulties confronting the Braves this year. The team’s pitching staff has also been hit hard by injuries to key arms Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, both expected to miss extensive time. Beyond these injuries, uncertainty looms over pitchers Grant Holmes, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Reynaldo López, adding to Atlanta’s precarious position.
These compounded problems create an uphill battle for the Braves, who are already coping with a disappointing season outlook after missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Profar’s Contract Raises Questions Amid Atlanta’s Growing Frustration
The $42 million deal the Braves gave Jurickson Profar in 2025 is increasingly viewed as a costly misstep. Signed to a three-year contract after spending much of the previous five seasons with the San Diego Padres, Profar’s suspension casts doubt on his tenure in Atlanta.
Financially, the Braves will avoid paying Profar for the 2026 season due to the suspension, having already paid him $6.2 million for last season’s 80 games. Still, the damage to the team’s image and roster balance is substantial.
With a potential MLB lockout looming in 2027, the Braves face a critical decision point regarding their roster strategy and future investments. General Manager Alex Anthopoulos, once praised for savvy moves that contributed to Atlanta’s 2021 World Series championship, now confronts mounting scrutiny as the team struggles to regain its former success.
The combination of key injuries, unmet expectations, and the fallout from Profar’s suspension could mark a turning point, necessitating swift and strategic changes to salvage the season and rebuild confidence among fans and players alike.
BREAKING: Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time, sources told ESPN. News free at ESPN: https://t.co/Od2Cht2QUO
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 3, 2026
Only an idiot gets busted twice for PEDs, especially when he already has a long-term contract. Can’t wait to hear the excuse this time. https://t.co/1QOUB5BcBF
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 3, 2026
I asked Profar this spring if he did anything this off season to make sure that mix up (inregards to PEDS) that happened before never happens again.
He said Yes. Yes
Obviously- he was wrong. https://t.co/7b2N3LRt0J
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) March 3, 2026
