Jurickson Profar has faced a significant setback in his career and has impacted the Atlanta Braves for the second consecutive year after testing positive for a banned substance, leading to a 162-game suspension for the upcoming 2026 season, as reported by ESPN on March 3.
The 33-year-old Profar was poised to enter the first year of a three-year, $42 million contract when he received an initial ban on March 31 after testing positive for a fertility drug considered a performance-enhancing substance. This resulted in an 80-game suspension, but he returned on July 2, finishing the season with a respectable 14 home runs and a .787 OPS over the latter half of the season.
However, this latest infraction will have much more severe financial repercussions. Profar will forfeit his entire $15 million salary for the 2026 season, accumulating a total loss of $18 million across both suspensions. Additionally, he will not be eligible to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, representing the Netherlands.
Having debuted in Major League Baseball back in 2012 at just 19 years old, Profar was entering his 13th season. He secured his first All-Star selection in 2024 while playing for the San Diego Padres, achieving career highs in home runs (24) and OPS (.839), which led to his acquisition by the Braves as their left fielder for the 2025 season. As a result of this suspension, fans won’t see him back on the Truist Field diamond until 2027.
Profar’s situation places him among six players who have received a ban of at least 162 games under Major League Baseball’s policy, a group that notably includes Robinson Cano, who faced two suspensions during his $240 million contract with Seattle, which greatly affected what many believed could have been a Hall of Fame career. Profar’s journey serves as a stark reminder of the consequences athletes face when navigating the complexities of substance regulations in professional sports.