Braves' Jurickson Profar Suspended 80 Games for PED Violation
Well, this is some shocking news coming out of Major League Baseball. Just four games into his debut season with the Atlanta Braves, Jurickson Profar has been handed an 80-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy. The suspension comes after Profar tested positive for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a banned substance under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The announcement has sent ripples through the baseball world, especially considering the Braves had high hopes for Profar after signing him to a three-year, $42 million contract this past offseason. Coming off a career-best year with the San Diego Padres in 2024, where he posted an impressive .280/.380/.459 slash line with All-Star and Silver Slugger honors, expectations were sky-high. But now, with this suspension in place, not only will he miss half the season, but he’s also ineligible for postseason play in 2025.
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The Braves organization responded swiftly to the news, expressing their surprise and disappointment in a statement. They reaffirmed their support for MLB’s anti-doping program and hoped that Profar would learn from this experience. Profar himself released a heartfelt statement through the MLB Players Association, calling it the most difficult day of his career. He maintained that he never knowingly took a banned substance but accepted full responsibility for the suspension. He acknowledged that he had been tested numerous times throughout his career, including eight times just last season, without issue.
This revelation has sparked plenty of speculation about Profar’s sudden rise in performance last season. Before 2024, he had been somewhat inconsistent throughout his career. While he always showed strong plate discipline, his offensive impact was never quite at an elite level. But in 2024, everything changed—his home run numbers jumped, his exit velocity increased significantly, and his overall offensive production skyrocketed. With this suspension, many are now questioning whether PEDs played a role in his breakout season.
For the Braves, this is a significant setback. The team already had a thin outfield, and Profar was expected to be a major contributor. Now, they’ll have to scramble for a replacement. Jarred Kelenic, Bryan De La Cruz, and Eli White will likely see increased playing time, but none of them provide the same level of offensive consistency that Profar was supposed to bring. Meanwhile, Alex Verdugo is still ramping up after signing late in the offseason, and Ronald Acuña Jr. remains out with an ACL injury. It’s safe to say that the Braves’ lineup just took a major hit.
It also raises questions about the team’s offseason strategy. They had been relatively conservative with their spending, seemingly aiming to stay below the competitive balance tax threshold. Profar was their biggest free-agent acquisition, and now he’s out for half the season. It’s a frustrating situation for the front office, who now have to reconsider their options as they navigate a tough NL East race.
This is a tough break for Profar, the Braves, and their fans. It remains to be seen how he’ll bounce back from this when he returns, but for now, Atlanta is left scrambling for answers as they try to salvage their season.
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