Atlanta Braves Jurickson Profar suspended 80 games for failed PED test | Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
The Friar Faithful cannot question his contributions last season
The first two weekends of the 2025 regular season are in the books, and it has been quite eventful for the San Diego Padres. They went undefeated on the first homestand before the bats went silent in the first two games of the road trip.
But there was some disheartening news. Former Padre Jurickson Profar was
suspended for 80 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The negative feedback from others has forced me to defend his legacy as a Friar.
Do not gloat about Profar’s misfortune
Shortly after his suspension announcement, I overheard two Friar Faithful discussing Profar’s predicament. Both expressed relief that he did not return to the team this season. They went on to speculate whether Profar might have used PEDs in 2024. Each agreed it might have been the reason for his inflated statistical numbers last season.
Initially, I wanted to respond with a snarky rebuttal. However, I realized it would have been inappropriate to offer a comedic response to the comments. Instead, I will try to debunk their baseless accusations with common sense.
Without a doubt, the cynical commentary stems from growing up during baseball’s “Steroid Era” in the 90s. Fans love to place a scarlet letter on players who they believe have taken PEDs. Too many marquee names have come under suspicion despite publicly declaring their innocence. The masses have convicted them without any evidence provided. The vague accusations grow louder until a player’s reputation is tarnished forever.
We can only rely on the facts provided. Profar is suspended for failing an offseason drug test. However, there is no evidence that he used PEDs at any point last season. In fact, Profar was tested eight times without a positive result during the 2024 campaign.
Is Profar a late bloomer?
We need to stop with the back-and-forth baseless assumptions on which players are taking PEDs for better results at the plate. Instead, let us get to the root of the problem. The above comments come from a lack of knowledge of Profar’s offensive production during his time in San Diego.
In five seasons with the Friars, he had a lifetime batting average of .257, 17 points higher than his career average with the Texas Rangers (.240). 2024 was Profar’s career-best offensive production. He batted .280 with 24 HRs and 84 RBIs. But they were not far off his best season with the Rangers (.254 with 20 HRs and 77 RBIs) or his lone year with the Oakland Athletics (.218 with 20 HRs and 67 RBIs).
The outrage should be more about Profar failing to play up to expectations. Last season was a breakout campaign for the former No. 1 overall minor league prospect. Before then, inconsistency could best describe his on-field production at his previous major league stops (Rangers, Athletics, Padres, and Colorado Rockies).
The Atlanta Braves signed him to
a big-money contract, as they expected Profar to become a quality top-of-the-order hitter. Those plans are on definitive hold for the 2025 season.
Profar will be able to return to the field later this season but he will not be eligible to play in the postseason. MLB prohibits all players with PED suspensions from participating in October baseball.
Now, Profar must show how much he loves baseball. The former All-Star finds himself in a familiar situation: wearing the black hat on the road. Profar showed he can excel in a hostile environment. It is time for Profar to exhibit the work ethic that made him a Petco Park legend.
We must take him at his word that the positive test result was an unfortunate mistake. If it comes out later that Profar has masked his PED usage for an extended period, then all bets are off.
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