Jurickson Profar suspended 80 Games for PEDs and now the MLB should expand testing across the entire Braves organization

Oh look, another Atlanta Braves scandal. Color me not shocked in the slightest. Outfielder Jurickson Profar has officially been popped for 80 games after violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

Jurickson Profar obviously tests positive for violating MLB’s PED policy

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

It’s a brutal blow to Atlanta’s outfield depth chart which I absolutely love. More importantly, it’s confirmation that, yes, something about Profar’s “breakout” 2024 season was too good to be true. Hand up — I was banging the drum to bring Profar to Philly all winter.

At the same time, I was HIGHLY SKEPTICAL of the numbers. They were far too suspicious for a former top prospect to appear out of no where with a career year.

Jurickson Profar was on PEDs OBVIOUSLY

I was skeptical about Jurickson Profar all winter. No further questions at this time but as the old saying goes…if it looks like a rat, plays like a rat, and is a 31-year old former top prospect with one good, career year under his belt then he's probably on PEDs https://t.co/yD3xpYjfU1 pic.twitter.com/20U3Py1gaQ

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) March 31, 2025

Atlanta Braves have agreed to a 3-year, $42 million deal with Jurickson Profar >>

After years of being a utility guy with a solid glove and a bat that barely kept him in the big leagues, Profar suddenly turned into an All-Star in San Diego last year:

• .839 OPS
• 24 homers
• 85 RBIs

Career highs across the board. And not like, “slightly better than normal” highs. Like out-of-body, where-the-hell-did-this-come-from kind of highs.

Now we know.

And look — it’s bad enough Profar cheated the game and cashed in on his steroid-fueled rise. But here’s the kicker: this is the second time in as many months that Atlanta has had a PED violation sweep up a key piece of their roster (and no, I won’t be shocked when there’s a third).

So while Profar sits for 80 games, how about we start asking some real questions about what’s going on inside that Braves clubhouse?

Let’s start with the obvious one: Spencer Strider.

Coming back from major arm surgery after six months like he’s Wolverine? I’m not saying he’s juicing, I’m just saying maybe we swab that mustache and see what shakes loose.

In fact, go ahead and line up the entire Braves organization — Triple-A Gwinnett to the grounds crew — and get the testing kits ready. The MLB should be sending a van to Truist Park as we speak. Don’t even let them take BP until we’re sure this isn’t a full-blown, top-to-bottom PED program wrapped in chop chants and tomahawk decals.

The worst part is that the Braves still had the audacity to place an order for torpedo bats like they’re just out here playing fair.

Phillies join the Torpedo Bat Arms Race — Alec Bohm makes contact, Bryson Stott next?

You’re telling me they’ve already got guys roided to the gills, and now they’re trying to juice their bats too? You don’t get to play the “we’re just a well-run organization” card when your clubhouse looks like a pharmacy and you’re customizing lumber to cheat launch angles.

There’s no dignity left in Atlanta. Not one shred.

Ban Profar, test Strider, and maybe pull the plug on the whole Braves operation until they prove they’re not building a baseball version of BALCO down there.

Join The Chase