The Atlanta Braves received an update on Jurickson Profar's status for the 2026 MLB season.
The Atlanta Braves entered spring training looking to build momentum for a bounce‑back 2026 season, but instead were met with another major setback involving one of their key outfield pieces, Jurickson Profar. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the organization had hoped for more stability this year from the 33-year-old.
That optimism has now taken one final hit for Profar. The Braves had already been dealing with roster questions and depth concerns, and now they will officially be forced to move forward without him after an unfortunate update on his appeal.
As ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Thursday, “Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after his appeal of a positive PED test was resolved. He will serve a 162‑game suspension for testing positive a second time and will be ineligible for postseason play.”
This marks the second straight year Profar has been suspended, further complicating what has turned into a disastrous stretch during his tenure with the Braves. After signing a three‑year, $42 million deal ahead of the 2025 season, expectations were high. However, his availability has been inconsistent, and now he will not play at all in 2026 while forfeiting his salary.
Profar’s first season in Atlanta was already stained by an 80‑game suspension in 2025. Still, when he returned, he showed flashes of productivity, posting a .245 batting average, .353 on‑base percentage and .787 OPS with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in just 80 games. That performance gave the Braves some hope he could still contribute at a high level when available.
Now, that hope is gone for the entire season. From a roster standpoint, Atlanta will likely turn to offseason addition Mike Yastrzemski to handle much of the workload left behind in the outfield. While Yastrzemski provides defensive stability and veteran presence, replacing Profar’s potential offensive upside is no easy task for the left-handed bat.
This development also raises bigger questions about the contract itself. What once looked like a reasonable investment following Profar’s All‑Star and Silver Slugger‑caliber 2024 season with the San Diego Padres is now trending toward one of the more disappointing deals in recent Braves history.
For a team aiming to return to postseason contention, losing a key bat for the entire year is a tough blow. Whether Atlanta can overcome it will depend heavily on internal depth and players stepping into larger roles moving forward. Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopolous will also have the ability to potentially use Profar's salary to add another player.