Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal with Atlanta in January 2025, has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball. The 32-year-old Profar will not be able to play until the very end of June. The Braves released the following statement:
"We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn that Jurickson Profar tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Prevention and Treatment Program. We fully support the Program and are hopeful that Jurickson will learn from this experience."
Profar’s breakout 2024 season with the Padres cemented his status as a fan favorite in San Diego. He slashed .280/.380/.459, hitting a career-high 24 home runs, 29 doubles, and driving in 85 runs while scoring 94, contributing significantly to the Padres’ 94-win campaign. His performance earned him a Silver Slugger Award, down-ballot MVP votes, and his first All-Star selection, a remarkable turnaround for a player who had previously struggled to find consistency.
Profar’s breakout 2024 season with the Padres cemented his status as a fan favorite in San Diego. He slashed .280/.380/.459, hitting a career-high 24 home runs, 29 doubles, and driving in 85 runs while scoring 94, contributing significantly to the Padres’ 94-win campaign. His performance earned him a Silver Slugger Award, down-ballot MVP votes, and his first All-Star selection, a remarkable turnaround for a player who had previously struggled to find consistency.
Profar’s tenure with the Padres, which began with a trade from the Oakland Athletics in 2019 and included a return in 2023 after a brief stint with the Colorado Rockies, showcased his versatility - he played multiple positions, including left field, center field, and second base - and his leadership in the clubhouse.
The news of Profar’s positive test comes at a particularly poignant time for Padres fans, who watched him face his former team in the season-opening series. On March 30, Profar was captured in a moment of sportsmanship at Petco Park, helping Padres first baseman Luis Arraez up after a play, a gesture that underscored the respect he still holds in San Diego despite his departure. This past Saturday, he attended the San Diego FC match at Snapdragon Stadium with Padres third-baseman Manny Machado. Profar's on-field performance against the Padres over the weekendwas lackluster, going 3-for-15 with a .200 batting average, one walk, and three strikeouts over the series, which the Padres dominated to start the 2025 season 4-0.
The news of Profar’s positive test comes at a particularly poignant time for Padres fans, who watched him face his former team in the season-opening series. On March 30, Profar was captured in a moment of sportsmanship at Petco Park, helping Padres first baseman Luis Arraez up after a play, a gesture that underscored the respect he still holds in San Diego despite his departure. This past Saturday, he attended the San Diego FC match at Snapdragon Stadium with Padres third-baseman Manny Machado. Profar's on-field performance against the Padres over the weekendwas lackluster, going 3-for-15 with a .200 batting average, one walk, and three strikeouts over the series, which the Padres dominated to start the 2025 season 4-0.
Profar’s exit from San Diego was a sore spot for many fans. Despite his expressed desire to stay, the Padres did not offer him a contract, a decision he publicly attributed to ownership challenges during a video call with Atlanta media. The Padres’ ownership, under Peter Seidler until his passing in 2023, had faced financial scrutiny, and the team’s 2025 payroll adjustments—following a $255 million commitment in 2024—may have played a role in their hesitance to re-sign Profar. Instead, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos moved quickly, offering Profar a deal that gave him confidence to join a team aiming for a deep postseason run after three consecutive early exits.
The timing of Profar’s reported suspension adds a layer of irony for Padres fans, who recall the team’s own brush with a similar scandal in 2022, when star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended 80 games for testing positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid. Tatis, who had been sidelined by a wrist injury at the time, missed the remainder of the 2022 season and the first 33 games of 2023. Profar, then a teammate, had supported Tatis, noting his devastation and the long road back to the field. Now, Profar faces a parallel situation.
"Braves fans, Today is the most difficult day of my baseball career. I am devastated to announce that I have been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball and the Commissioner's Office, for testing positive for a banned substance this offseason. This is especially painful for me because anyone who knows me and has seen me play knows I am deeply passionate about the game. There is nothing I love more than competing with my teammates and being a fan favorite. I want to apologize to the entire Braves organization, my teammates, and the fans. 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. I am devastated that I won't be on the field with my teammates for the next 80 games. I look forward to competing again at the highest level this season upon my return."
Originally published on March 31, 2025.
