Jurickson Profar Faces 162-Game PED Suspension from MLB

ATLANTA (Azat TV) – Jurickson Profar, the Curaçaoan professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, has been hit with a 162-game suspension by Major League Baseball (MLB) following his second positive test for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). This significant development, confirmed by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and other sources, means Profar will miss the entire 2026 MLB season without pay, delivering a major blow to both his career and the Braves’ roster strategy.

The suspension comes less than a year after Profar’s first failed drug test, which occurred early in the 2025 season. That initial violation, involving Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), resulted in an 80-game ban. Under MLB’s stringent Joint Drug Agreement, a second offense automatically triggers a 162-game suspension, rendering a player ineligible for postseason play. Should Profar incur a third positive test in the future, he faces a lifetime ban from the league.

Jurickson Profar’s Second PED Violation

The news of Profar’s second positive test emerged on March 3, 2026, just as he was reportedly departing for Miami to participate in the World Baseball Classic, representing the Netherlands. The timing underscores the immediate impact of the suspension, which immediately sidelines the 33-year-old veteran. Sources, including Atlanta Braves on SI, independently confirmed the impending suspension, highlighting the severity of repeat offenses under MLB policy.

Profar’s first suspension in 2025 cost him nearly $6 million of his $12 million salary. This 162-game ban will strip him of his entire $15 million salary for the 2026 season. He is currently in the second year of a three-year, $42 million contract he signed with Atlanta after a breakout 2024 season where he slashed .280/.380/.459.

Implications for the Atlanta Braves Roster

For the Atlanta Braves, Profar’s suspension creates an immediate and substantial void in their lineup. The team had planned to platoon Profar at left field and designated hitter alongside Mike Yastrzemski. While Yastrzemski can now assume primary duties in left field, the designated hitter role becomes a critical area of concern. The Braves will need to pivot quickly to identify a viable option.

Possible internal solutions include rotating Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin at DH once Murphy returns to full health. However, this would necessitate finding a third catcher and potentially another outfielder to provide depth. Eli White could see increased action, but the team may also explore adding another player to their 40-man roster to bridge the gap. The unexpected salary space, amounting to a $14 million luxury tax hit cleared by Profar’s unpaid suspension, could potentially allow the Braves to pursue other roster enhancements, such as acquiring a starting pitcher, a need they have reportedly been addressing.

Profar’s Contract and Career Outlook

Jurickson Profar’s career now faces immense uncertainty. While he has one more year remaining on his contract through the 2027 season, the precedent for players returning to significant action in the majors after a 162-game suspension is slim. He is among a very small group of players to receive such a lengthy ban, and even fewer have successfully re-established themselves in MLB. His age, 33, further complicates a potential comeback, as a full year away from competitive play can be particularly challenging for veteran athletes.

The repeated violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Agreement by a veteran player like Jurickson Profar underscores the league’s unwavering stance against performance-enhancing drugs, signaling severe career-altering consequences for those who transgress the policy, while simultaneously forcing immediate and significant roster adjustments for his team, the Atlanta Braves.