BREAKING: Jurickson Profar Suspended for 80 Games

A huge blow to the Atlanta Braves as outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games for violating MLB’s PED policy.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar is being suspended for 80 games for violating MLB’s PED policy, sources confirm to ESPN. First with the news was @mikedeportes.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 31, 2025

Profar tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance called Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG). It's the same drug that Manny Ramirez once tested positive for.

Profar will be able to return after his suspension is up in late June, but according to baseball's PED violation policy, he will not be eligible for the playoffs this year.

Suspiciously, Profar had a breakout year last season with the San Diego Padres, coming out of nowhere to post career-highs in home runs (24), RBIs (85), OPS (.839), average (.280), on-base percentage (.380) and slugging percentage (.459).

The 32-year-old truly blew away his previous bests from his 12-year MLB career. In the 2023 season he was close to rock bottom with an OPS+ of 81, about 20% worse than the average major leaguer, and had to scratch out a $1 million deal just to catch on again with the Padres in '24.

That All-Star performance in San Diego, however, allowed Profar to go into free agency this past winter and command a three-year, $42 million deal with the Braves in January.

This also helps explain why Atlanta went out and made a deal for another outfielder earlier in the day, as they knew the suspension was about to be handed down.

Profar released a statement, through the MLBPA:

A statement from Jurickson Profar … pic.twitter.com/n3KAli1pY5
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) March 31, 2025

As all players do, Profar denied "knowingly" taking the substance.

"It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it.

"I have been tested my entire career, including eight times last season alone, and have never tested positive. I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB's decision".

He also made sure to note in his statement that he was suspended "for testing positive for a banned substance this offseason." (Italics added here). Just a little something for the Braves to chew on, just in case they were wondering about the validity of Profar's 2024 season and the $42M contract they handed him as a result of it.

Based on his hefty salary, the 80-game ban will cost Profar over $6.9M in lost wages.

He was batting .200 through four games with Atlanta this season.