UPDATE: It is confirmed. Jurickson Profar will be suspended 80 games for violating MLB's PED policy.
The Atlanta Braves season has gotten off to the worst start you could imagine. They were just swept by the Padres in a four-game set before having to face the 5-0 Dodgers. And the team and fans may have received even worse news Monday about their biggest offseason acquisition.
MLB insider Mike Rodriguez is reporting that Jurickson Profar allegedly tested positive for banned substances and will be suspended by Major League Baseball. The timing for this couldn't be any worse but it feels on par for how things have gone for the Braves over the last two years.
Jurickson Profar PED suspension rumors couldn't come at a worse time for Braves
Breaking News: According to my sources, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar tested positive for some substances banned by the MLB and will be suspended. #Braves #JuricksonProfar pic.twitter.com/80rDocJBtG
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) March 31, 2025
This would be a huge blow for Atlanta's lineup as they await Ronald Acuña Jr. to return in the next month or so. Profar had impressed a lot of folks already in his time with his new team. He even set history for the franchise in the first game of the season by seeing more pitches in a single game in regulation during the pitch-tracking era.
Alex Anthopoulos did a great job stockpiling outfield depth this offseason, but it is being tested immediately. This means Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz will get daily reps for the time being. The Braves do have Alex Verdugo waiting in the minors and he could play every day when he is ready should this be a lengthy suspension. Not too long before this news broke, the Braves also traded for Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild in now what's being seen as insurance.
Manager Brian Snitker stated on Sunday that Acuña is still in Florida preparing for the season so it will likely be May before he is even an option to help the team.
As for Profar, he could face a similar suspension that his former teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. did back in 2022. Tatis was suspended 80 games when he tested positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance that violates Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Again, there's no word yet on what substances he violated using but we will provide updates as they come.