Braves' Walt Weiss Speaks on Jurickson Profar's 162-Game PED Suspension

Atlanta manager reacts to star player's second straight suspension for violating league's substance policy.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss expressed disappointment after learning that star player Jurickson Profar would be suspended for the entire 2026 season due to a violation of Major League Baseball's substance policy. This is Profar's second straight year receiving such a suspension, dealing a major blow to the Braves as they look to bounce back from a tough 2025 campaign.

Why it matters

Profar's suspension is a significant setback for the Braves, who were counting on him to be a key part of their lineup this season. The team is already dealing with injury concerns in their pitching staff, so losing Profar for the entire year puts even more pressure on the rest of the roster to step up.

The details

Weiss said he found out about the suspension just minutes before it was publicly announced, leaving him still processing the news. The players' association has indicated it will appeal the suspension, but for now the Braves must prepare to play the 2026 season without their prized free agent acquisition from two years ago.

  • The 2026 MLB regular season is scheduled to begin later this month with a home series against the Kansas City Royals.

The players

Walt Weiss

The manager of the Atlanta Braves.

Jurickson Profar

A star player for the Atlanta Braves who has been suspended for the entire 2026 season due to a violation of MLB's substance policy.

Spencer Schwellenbach

An Atlanta Braves pitcher who has been ruled out for the opening chunk of the 2026 season after recently undergoing surgery.

Chris Sale

A veteran Atlanta Braves pitcher who has a storied injury history and is 37 years old entering the 2026 season.

Spencer Strider

An Atlanta Braves pitcher who had a down year in 2025 in the aftermath of his own major procedure.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, disappointed. I found out about ten minutes before it got announced, maybe five minutes, so I'm still processing a lot of this.”

— Walt Weiss, Atlanta Braves Manager (MLB.com)

What’s next

The players' association has signaled its intention to appeal Profar's suspension, but for now the Braves must prepare to play the 2026 season without him.

The takeaway

Profar's second straight suspension for violating MLB's substance policy is a major setback for the Braves, who were counting on him to be a key part of their lineup this season. The team is already dealing with injury concerns in their pitching staff, so losing Profar for the entire year puts even more pressure on the rest of the roster to step up and keep Atlanta competitive.