Following a string of seven consecutive postseason games, including a World Series victory in 2021 — only the fourth in the franchise’s three-city history — the Atlanta Braves were unusually quiet this winter. They made no notable free agent acquisitions in 2024, instead focusing on tiny agreements for minor league contracts. Finally, on January 23, 2025, the Braves scored.
The club signed former San Diego Padres free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract. Fans were surprised that the Braves did not locate a replacement for Ronald Acuña Jr., who is still recovering from his second ACL knee surgery.
The four-time All-Star, 2018 National League Rookie of the Year, and 2023 MVP is not projected to return to the Atlanta lineup until late May at the most. The Braves anticipated that adding Profar, a 32-year-old 12-year veteran from Willemstad, Curacao, would help them patch up their outfield, as he had a breakout season in 2024.
Profar, then a Padres player, was named to his first All-Star squad and concluded the season with 24 home runs and an.839 OPS, earning his first Silver Slugger award in the process.
Seriously Ugly Start to 2025 For Atlanta
Despite having Profar in the lineup and missing Acuña Jr., the Braves had a disastrous start to the 2025 season. Atlanta lost all four games against Profar’s former team, the Padres, who eliminated the Braves from the playoffs with a two-game Wild Card Series sweep last year.
The Braves were outscored 17-7 in the series, with Profar hitting three singles, drawing one walk, and striking out three times in 16 plate appearances. The Braves were shut out in each of the last two games of the four-game series. In fact, leading into Monday night’s game against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Braves had gone scoreless in 22 innings.
According to an ESPN.com story, Atlanta’s situation worsened on Monday when it was discovered that Profar had tested positive for a chemical forbidden under MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
The Braves’ $42 million acquisition will now face an 80-game penalty. That means that unless he wins an appeal to reduce or eliminate the punishment, Profar will be out until June 29, when the Braves play Game 85 of the season.
Profar Describes Himself as ‘Devastated’
Profar made a statement, quoted by ESPN.com, in which he described himself as “devastated” and Monday as “the most difficult day in my baseball career.” Profar stated that in 2024, he underwent eight PED tests and received no positive results.
By Monday afternoon, no new information about Profar’s supposed positive test had been made available.
Profar was expected to earn $12 million this season under his new contract. He will now have his paycheck reduced by nearly half, as the 80-game suspension also means Profar will not be compensated for the games he misses as a result of the suspected PED policy violation.
The ban only makes it more difficult for the Braves to turn their fortunes around after a dismal 0-4 start, and according to Fansided Braves reporter Chris Schad, manager Brian Snitker’s job may soon be jeopardized.
