Once an All-Star, Profar faces a full season off the field after a second drug policy violation. The Braves will miss his bat in 2026.
Former San Diego Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar is facing a suspension that could keep him out for all of the 2026 season after violating MLB’s joint drug policy for the second time, according to ESPN. It comes a year removed from being suspended 80 games at the start of the 2025 season for taking performance-enhancing drugs.
For second-time offenders, a 162-game ban is the automatic penalty. Barring an unusual twist, Profar will not be on the field in 2026.
Profar is now a member of the Atlanta Braves, where he signed a three-year, $42 million contract before the 2025 season. After missing the first 80 games of the season due to his suspension, Profar finished the year with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a .787 OPS.
Formerly a Padre for four and a half seasons, Profar was an All-Star as recently as 2024 in his final season in San Diego. During that year, Profar hit 24 home runs, drove in 85 runs, and recorded an .839 OPS. It was enough to win the Silver Slugger Award and even receive MVP votes by the season’s end.
2024 was his best season as a Padre, but he had first joined the Friars back in 2020. In his 517 games in San Diego, Profar recorded a slash line of .257/.349/.403 with a .753 OPS. Although he’s struggled in the outfield during his career, the 33-year-old was an above-average bat for the Padres as they cemented themselves as a competitive team in the early 2020s.
Profar’s suspension comes as a big blow for the Braves, who are now likely to be without a great-hitting option for the entirety of 2026 as they look to have a bounce-back season. After finishing in fourth place in the National League East with just 76 wins, the Braves are one of the teams in the league most likely to see a big increase in their win total in 2026.
Profar’s impending suspension hurts their chances at climbing back up the NL East, although they should still have a much better 2026 campaign – Profar won’t be a part of it. Likely being suspended for the entire season, Profar will enter the 2027 season with one year remaining on his contract at a $15 million salary.