Mar 30, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Jurickson Profar (7) helps San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez (4) up after grounding out during the seventh inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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What Does Jurickson Profar’s Suspension Mean for the Atlanta Braves?

80-game suspension for outfielder Jurickson Profar!

The Atlanta Braves have been dealt a significant blow with outfielder Jurickson Profar’s 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, MLB announced Monday. Profar, who tested positive for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone related to testosterone production, will miss a large portion of the season. This news comes at a particularly challenging time for the Braves, who have struggled early in the 2025 season, suffering four consecutive losses to the San Diego Padres, Profar’s former team.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar is being suspended for 80 games for violating MLB’s PED policy, sources confirm to ESPN. First with the news was @mikedeportes.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 31, 2025

Profar’s suspension is a major setback for both the player and the Braves, who were counting on the veteran’s production. Heading into the 2024 season, Profar had signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Padres, a deal that seemed modest at the time. However, he went on to deliver a career year, hitting 24 home runs, earning an All-Star spot in left field, winning a Silver Slugger award, and finishing the season as one of the top outfielders in MLB. He then, signed a three-year deal worth $42 million with the Atlanta Braves. His absence will now create a void in the Braves’ outfield.

How does the Braves outfield look amidst Jurickson Profar’s suspension?

This situation is compounded by the ongoing absence of Ronald Acuña Jr., who remains on the injured list as he recovers from a torn ACL. Acuña isn’t expected to return until at least late May, leaving the Braves without two key outfielders for the foreseeable future. While Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz have been platooning in right field in Acuña’s absence, Profar’s suspension forces the Braves to adjust yet again.

ALSO READ: When will Ronald Acuna Jr. return?

To fill the gap left by Profar, the Braves are likely to turn to Alex Verdugo, who was signed to a $1.5 million contract on March 20, but optioned to the minors to get at-bats. Verdugo, who played a key role in left field for the AL pennant-winning Yankees last season, was widely criticized for his offensive struggles but remains a strong defensive option. His underwhelming bat caused some concern around MLB, which led to him settling for a one-year deal with the Braves after a relatively quiet offseason.

The Braves will now need to rely on a combination of players to fill the gaps left by Profar and Acuña. Michael Harris II will continue to man center field, while the Kelenic-De La Cruz platoon will hold down right field along with space for Alex Verdugo to now make the roster.

The loss of Profar’s bat, especially with Acuña’s continued absence, will force the Braves to be creative in their roster decisions and player rotations. For now, they’ll have to navigate the early-season challenges without their full roster, hoping that their remaining roster can weather the storm.

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Jurickson Profar

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.