Atlanta Braves' Jurickson Profar gets an 80-game suspension for PED use and is ineligible for the postseason
Major League Baseball announced Monday that Profar tested positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in violation of the joint drug prevention and treatment program.
Profar's suspension is effective immediately. Barring postponed games, he would be eligible to return June 29 against the Philadelphia Phillies and would lose $5,806,440 of his $12 million salary. He is also ineligible for the postseason.
Profar called it the 'most difficult day of my baseball career' and said he would never knowingly cheat.
'This is especially painful for me because anyone who knows me and has seen me play knows I am deeply passionate about the game,' he said in a statement. 'There is nothing I love more than competing with my teammates and being a fan favorite. I want to apologize to the entire Braves organization, my teammates and the fans.
'It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it. I have been tested my entire career, including eight times last season alone, and have never tested positive. I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB's decision.'
The 32-year-old Profar was an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger award last season, when he batted .280 and set career highs with 24 homers and 85 RBIs for the San Diego Padres. He signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Braves in the offseason.
Profar is the fourth player suspended this year for violating the performance-enhancing substance policy, with the others coming under the minor-league program and the program for minor-leaguers assigned outside the United States and Canada.
Two players were suspended last year under the major-league drug program.
Noelvi Marté, a 22-year-old infielder who was considered the Cincinnati Reds' top prospect, missed the first 80 games after a positive test for boldenone.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended for 80 games on June 23 after a positive test for clomiphene, an announcement made two days after his major-league debut.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
a minute ago
- Newsweek
Why Red Sox Need This Trade Upgrade For Second Consecutive Season
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Boston Red Sox are in position to buy at the MLB trade deadline despite a 2-4 slump against top talent coming out of the All-Star break. A frontline starting pitcher and a first baseman are the main priorities for Boston, but it's clear another position to needs to be upgraded for the second consecutive summer. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 2: Connor Wong #12 of the Boston Red Sox hits a single during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on July 2, 2025 at Fenway Park in... BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 2: Connor Wong #12 of the Boston Red Sox hits a single during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on July 2, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. More Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston/Getty Images Boston moved on from backup catcher Reese McGuire last summer and traded for Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen to pair with Connor Wong, who found a surge in his bat. This year, Carlos Narvaez outplayed Wong to win the starting job following an offseason trade with the New York Yankees. Narvaez continues to pace MLB backstops in runners caught stealing and defensive runs saved, though he's manned a heavy workload through the first 100 games of the season. The Red Sox have gotten next to nothing from Wong, who is yet to deliver a hit with runners in scoring position. He has just one run driven in this season to the tune of a .372 OPS. It won't take much for Boston to earn an upgrade and the market isn't loaded. If the chance comes around, for the sake of Narvaez's help, the Red Sox need to be proactive behind the plate. More MLB: Yankees Have Competition From 11 Teams For All-Star Third Baseman: Report
USA Today
2 minutes ago
- USA Today
Breanna Stewart, WNBA stars won't settle for 'less' in CBA negotiations
INDIANAPOLIS ― With seconds remaining in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart gathered a rebound and intentionally tossed the ball to Washington Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen, who was on the opposing team. Iriafen, excited to get another shot at her 4-point attempt, drained the basket and immediately celebrated. The gesture was small, but a proverbial reflection of the work that Stewart, Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, and Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink do in partnership with Delta. As athlete ambassadors, the trio is part of a specially curated video series called "Power Forward." The initiative, centered around storytelling, gives an inside look at each player's basketball journey, current hurdles present in women's sports at large and what the future looks like for the league as it continues to grow. "The most important part of the league's story with Delta is just kind of showing where we started and the family behind it all," Stewart shared with USA TODAY during All-Star weekend. "I think about the moment where [Cameron Brink] and Nneka [Ogwumike] and I were shooting together and having these videos from our family members to our friends to high school coaches, and it's just a journey ― the journey of our basketball careers and where we are today." Stewart, Ogwumike and Brink began their basketball careers at different times, but their paths have converged and now represent three eras in the WNBA: the past, present and future. Ogwumike, drafted in 2012 by Los Angeles, was already in the league and had a Rookie of the Year trophy when Stewart turned pro with Seattle in 2016. Stewart and Ogwumike had three total championships and three total MVP trophies by the time Brink became the 2024 No. 2 overall pick. The Liberty forward is also part of the leadership staff for the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and in active CBA negotiations with the league. Stewart acknowledged the invisible thread that connects her with not only Ogwumike and Brink, but also the next generation of basketball players. "The W is using the momentum to make sure that whether you've been here long enough to understand negotiations from 2020 to negotiations now ― from where we started when I had roommates in my rookie season of the league, now flying charter with Delta, to hopefully even reaching new heights in the following seasons ― we're constantly the ones that are using our platforms for better and striving for even more," Stewart explained. The hope is young players like Brink, Iriafen and many others will benefit from the efforts of the current generation, who have been fighting for their livelihood while unconsciously advocating for players they had yet to meet. Stewart says the current culture of the WNBA is bold. Players are taking risks, fighting for what they believe is right and standing firm in their beliefs, knowing that the next athlete who has yet to grace the hardwood at the pro level is depending on them. Without flinching, she delivered a simple yet powerful message to everyone listening and watching: "Now more than ever, we know our worth and our value, and we're not taking anything less."
Forbes
3 minutes ago
- Forbes
Anthony Volpe Needs Confidence Amid 2025 Season Of Defensive Struggles
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 05: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees in action against the New ... More York Mets at Citi Field on July 05, 2025 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Yankees 12-6. (Photo by) New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe has been subjected to intense criticism amid defensive regression and offensive inconsistencies throughout the 2025 regular season. Conversations regarding torpedo bats and improvements in Volpe's barrel percentage have quickly subsided as he needs a mental reset while focusing on baseball fundamentals. The 24-year-old shortstop is in the middle of his third major league season as there is ample time for growth and maturity. Volpe's struggles are intensified due to the prominence of his defensive position and the standard of excellence that has been established when it comes to leadership and production. While athleticism and maximum effort are always evident with Volpe, the Yankees desperately need stability at shortstop right now instead of below-average performances accompanied by ongoing concerns at third base. A first-round pick (30th overall) by the Yankees in Major League Baseball's 2019 draft out of Delbarton School in New Jersey, Volpe received a $2,740,300 signing bonus which was $374,800 above the assigned value. The Yankees have a complicated history with first-round selections in Major League Baseball's draft as not everyone has been catcher Thurman Munson, shortstop Derek Jeter and right fielder Aaron Judge. There have been a few cautionary tales, missed opportunities and questions regarding the development of pitchers. Most notably, right-handed pitcher Joba Chamberlain and the rules that were implemented to manage his workload. Anthony Volpe And Immediate Defensive Excellence Volpe won the 2023 American League Gold Glove Award in his rookie season. According to FanGraphs, only Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets played more innings at shortstop (1,365.1) than Volpe (1,346.2) as his excellence was highlighted by the advanced metric defensive runs saved (DRS). Volpe's 15 DRS was third-best among major league shortstops. Not only did he win the award over finalists Carlos Correa of the Minnesota Twins and Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers, but Volpe was the youngest shortstop to achieve this feat at 22 years and 156 days old on the final day of the 2023 regular season according to Bryan Hoch of The chart examines Anthony Volpe's durability and performance using six advanced defensive metrics ... More over the past three seasons (2023-Present). Volpe is in a no-win situation given how he has already demonstrated an aptitude for playing defense at an elite level. Sometimes, young ball players take a step backward as development rarely occurs in a linear fashion. In Volpe's case, he is confronting adversity in an unforgiving environment with enormous expectations. One could say Volpe is a product of his surroundings given how the Yankees have mastered the art of inconsistency and are prone to atrocious displays of defense. The Yankees have made 12 errors in 10 ball games against the Toronto Blue Jays, a ball club that plays an intelligent brand of baseball and places pressure on an opponent's defense. Aaron Boone, manager of the Yankees, has been supportive of Volpe even as he has become increasingly frustrated with questions from the media regarding his shortstop's defensive regression. 'He's still a top shortstop. He hasn't made a few plays that has generated a lot of noise,' said Boone after a recent loss to the Blue Jays who are currently in first place in the American League East. While Boone has publicly defended Volpe, it's hard to accept that defensive lapses over an extended period are merely noise when reality poses a problem. Anthony Volpe And Current Defensive Struggles Through the conclusion of the three-game series against the Blue Jays ending on July 23rd, advanced metrics such as defensive runs saved (DRS), outs above average (OAA), fielding run value (FRV) and runs above average (RAA) portray an unflattering tale of Volpe's season. In 863.2 innings over 101 ball games, Volpe has posted a 1 DRS, -4 OAA, -2 FRV and -3 RAA according to FanGraphs. He is tied with shortstop Willy Adames of the San Francisco Giants and shortstop Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds for the second-most errors (13) in Major League Baseball. While well below Volpe's standards, the matter becomes an area of even greater concern given how third base has been a lingering liability for the Yankees. Presently, the Yankees are seeing defensive production in the form of -1 DRS, -4 OAA, -3 FRV and -3 RAA from third base which doesn't bode well for the left side of the infield. Besides working with infield coach Travis Chapman on ways to improve accuracy and footwork, Volpe must unlock a mindset that personified the greatness of Jeter. It all begins with learning how to slow down a ball game in high leverage situations. Volpe possesses a tenacious work ethic, but it appears as if everything is done at a high-octane speed which adversely affects his decision making and performance. Instead of exuding confidence and trust in his instincts, Volpe is unsure of himself as evident in fielding ground balls on one knee. He appears to be unsettled, out of sync and acts with a sense of urgency. The chart uses seven advanced offensive metrics to evaluate Anthony Volpe's performance in ... More comparison to the major league statistics at the shortstop position. While regression has temporarily replaced growth when it comes to assessing Volpe's current performance, it is worth noting that he has been a durable, everyday ball player since his March 2023 major league debut against the San Francisco Giants. According to FanGraphs, there have only been four shortstops who have played at least 3,500 innings at the position beginning in 2023 and running through Volpe's last ball game versus the Blue Jays. In fact, only two ball players have played more innings than Volpe (3,627.0) during this period: first baseman Matt Olson (3,764.0) of the Atlanta Braves and second baseman Marcus Semien (3,683.1) of the Texas Rangers. According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Volpe is currently earning $879,100 and will be arbitration-eligible for the first time at season's end. Anthony Volpe has experienced a few setbacks in terms of performance, but he shouldn't be a scapegoat for the roster deficiencies the New York Yankees have failed to address in recent years. As power in the American League East has quickly shifted in favor of the Toronto Blue Jays, don't expect Major League Baseball's upcoming trade deadline to serve as an antidote when attempting to cure all the Yankees' ailments. Volpe is not a polished gem as he is still developing under the intense pressure of playing in New York. Instead of focusing on Volpe's regression, maybe the time has come for a deeper dialogue on how the Yankees are failing when it comes to developing talent.
