The Atlanta Braves have been officially notified that Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season due to his suspension by Major League Baseball. The 33-year-old player from Curacao was suspended on March 3 after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, marking his second positive result for a performance-enhancing drug within a little over a year. This follows a previous suspension in 2025, where he was banned for 80 games after testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin. Profar's latest suspension was upheld after he appealed the decision, as confirmed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The ruling means he will be ineligible to participate in the 2026 postseason and will forfeit his $15 million salary for the 2026 season. In 2025, he lost over $5.1 million in earnings due to missing nearly half the season as a result of his prior suspension. Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Braves in January 2025, had only played 80 games for the team as of the latest update. The deal came after he had an All-Star season with the San Diego Padres in 2024. His suspension now effectively ends his tenure with the Braves for the 2026 campaign, leaving the team to navigate the loss of a key player amid ongoing disciplinary actions against him.#curacao #atlanta_braves #jurickson_profar #san_diego_padres #major_league_baseball
Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs after his appeal was denied, marking the end of his 2026 season with the Atlanta Braves. The decision comes as Major League Baseball confirmed Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, resulting in the full-season ban for a second violation. The suspension makes him the sixth player to receive such a penalty since MLB implemented the policy in 2014, which mandates a 162-game suspension for repeat offenders. Profar, 33, will forfeit his $15 million salary for 2026 and will be ineligible for postseason play. The suspension follows a prior 80-game ban in March 2025 after he tested positive for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone linked to testosterone production. At the time, Profar issued a statement acknowledging his responsibility and accepting MLB’s decision, though he denied intentional wrongdoing. His 2025 suspension came early in the season, and after returning in July, he posted a .245/.353/.434 batting line with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs while playing left field. The Braves signed Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract in January 2025 after he had a standout season with the San Diego Padres. As an All-Star in 2024, Profar was expected to play a key role in Atlanta’s lineup, potentially as the No. 2 hitter behind Ronald Acuña Jr. However, his absence for the entire 2026 season will reshape the team’s plans. Braves first-year manager Walt Weiss noted the DH position will be “fairly fluid” without Profar, citing the addition of left fielder Mike Yastrzemski, who signed a $23 million, two-year deal in the offseason. Yastrzemski, along with Acuña and Michael Harris, is expected to form the starting outfield.#atlanta_braves #jurickson_profar #major_league_baseball #walt_weiss #mike_yastrzemski
MLB Announces 80-Game Suspension For Johan Rojas Major League Baseball announced today that Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension was confirmed after Rojas’s appeal process concluded, and he will begin serving the penalty during the 2026 season. Rojas, 25, has been a key player for the Phillies as their center fielder over the past three seasons, known for his defensive skills and base-stealing ability. However, his offensive production has been inconsistent, with a .237/.279/.312 batting line since 2024, translating to a 64 wRC+—36% below league average. His struggles at the plate have prompted the Phillies to seek alternatives, leading to the acquisition of Harrison Bader in 2025. Bader, now a free agent, is expected to take over the center field role, with prospect Justin Crawford serving as a potential backup. Rojas’s suspension removes him from contention for a starting role in 2026. Without him, the Phillies face a challenge in center field depth. Left fielder Brandon Marsh has experience in the position but is defensively limited, while Pedro León, a 40-man roster player with only seven major league games under his belt, and utility man Dylan Moore, who has limited center field experience, are potential options. The team may need to explore waivers or free agency in the coming weeks to address the gap. The suspension also raises questions about the Phillies’ roster flexibility. With Rojas ineligible for the postseason, the team may look to add depth in center field as Opening Day approaches.#jurickson_profar #mlb #philadelphia_phillies #johan_rojas #boldenone
Ceddanne Rafaela Seeks to Learn from Andruw Jones in World Baseball Classic Ceddanne Rafaela, the 25-year-old Red Sox center fielder, sees playing for the Netherlands under manager Andruw Jones in the World Baseball Classic as an opportunity to grow as a player. For Rafaela, the experience mirrors the process of pursuing higher education, offering a chance to learn from one of the game’s greatest defensive stars. Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove winner and Hall of Fame inductee, has been a mentor figure for Rafaela, who expressed admiration for his career and defensive prowess. Rafaela, who made his WBC debut with the Netherlands in a loss to Venezuela, emphasized his eagerness to absorb lessons from Jones. “I want to be a complete player like he was,” Rafaela said. “There’s a lot I can learn from talking to somebody who had the kind of career that he did.” Jones, who has been a guiding presence for Curacaoan players in the majors, recalled hearing about Rafaela years ago through coaches and players. “They knew he was coming,” Jones said. “I’m proud of all of them. It’s a small island and baseball is big. They love the game.” The connection between Rafaela and Jones extends beyond their shared nationality and position. Both hail from Curacao, a Caribbean island with a strong baseball tradition. Since Hensley Meulens became the first Curacaoan to reach the majors in 1989, 17 players have followed. Jones, who has been a mentor to many, noted that Rafaela’s potential was recognized early. “Coaches back home said he was a great shortstop,” Jones said. “When I saw him on TV, I realized he’s a special kid.” Despite the natural comparisons between Rafaela and Jones, the latter insists the focus should be on Rafaela’s own development. “There’s only going to be one [Andruw Jones],” Jones said.#andruw_jones #curacao #world_baseball_classic #ceddanne_rafaela #jurickson_profar
