Braves' disappointing $18M Silver Slugger went off the grid following second PED suspension originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves were once high on Jurickson Profar following his best season in MLB, making him their biggest free-agency target. Little did Atlanta know that he would become one of the most disappointing signings in Braves history.
It isn’t as if Profar’s tenure in Atlanta was riddled with injuries that cost him playing time. Instead, the switch-hitting left fielder disappointed because of two PED suspensions and the time he missed as a result.
“MLB announced Profar received the 80-game suspension after testing positive for Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a performance-enhancing substance that is in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote.
Sure, a first offense could be a mistake, as anything could have happened. However, it happened a second time, and this time, it was before the season even started, putting the Braves in a difficult position.
“Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since Major League Baseball increased the penalty for two-time offenders to a full season in 2014. He will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary," ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote.
The second suspension simply didn’t make sense. Getting something mixed up with medication can happen, but having it happen twice is something that shouldn’t happen. On the Hammer Territory Podcast, Scott Coleman revealed that Profar had gone incognito following his second suspension.
“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,” Coleman said.
The entire situation is a bad look for Profar, and the Braves might just eat the final year of his contract at this point. His actions have also raised questions about how he has handled both suspensions.
Profar is entering the final year of his $45 million deal with Atlanta. The former Silver Slugger’s reported lack of communication with people in the organization could be another obstacle to his future with the Braves.
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