Jurickson Profar, the Atlanta Braves’ $45 million switch-hitting left fielder and former Silver Slugger, has completely disappeared following his second performance-enhancing drug suspension. The dude literally went off the grid, leaving everyone in the organization scratching their heads and Braves fans probably wondering what the heck just happened to their big free-agency target.
A Repeat Offender and a Full Season Lost
This isn’t Profar’s first rodeo with a PED ban, which is what makes this whole thing sting so bad. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported on the first offense, an 80-game suspension after Profar tested positive for Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a substance that’s a big no-no under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. You know, a first offense, you can maybe squint and say, “Mistake? Accidents happen?” But then it happened again, and this time, it was *before the season even started*. Talk about putting your team in a rough spot. ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news on the second ban, a whopping 162-game suspension, meaning a full season out. Profar, at 33, became the sixth player to get hit with a full-season ban for PED use since MLB upped the penalty for two-time offenders back in 2014. He’s also forfeiting his entire $15 million salary for the year. Getting something mixed up once? Maybe. Twice? Nah, that just doesn’t fly.
He Just Vanished
But here’s where it gets truly wild. After getting slapped with that second suspension, Profar didn’t just go quiet, he straight-up vanished. Scott Coleman spilled the tea on the Hammer Territory Podcast, saying, “Talking with people around the team. After Profar got suspended a second time for his PED violation, this dude disappeared off the face of the earth. Changed his cell phone numbed, nobody heard from him, players hadn’t heard from him is what I was told.” Think about that for a second. Your big free-agency signing, a guy on a $45 million deal, gets busted again, and then just… ghosts everyone? That’s not just a bad look, it’s a terrible one, and it certainly raises some serious questions about how he’s been handling these suspensions.
What Happens Next For Profar’s Career?
So, what’s next for Profar? He’s entering the final year of that $45 million deal, and his reported lack of communication with people in the organization is just another massive obstacle for his future with the Braves. At this point, it sounds like Atlanta might just eat the final year of his contract and try to move on. With a full season ban and radio silence, it sure looks like his time in Atlanta is done for good. The Braves are likely just hoping to put this whole messy situation behind them as quickly as possible and get back to focusing on baseball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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