NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension by Major League Baseball for a possible second failed test for a performance-enhancing drug, a person familiar with the issue told The Associated Press on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the process, first reported by ESPN, was ongoing.<\/p>\n
The players\u2019 association filed a grievance at Profar\u2019s request to appeal any discipline to baseball\u2019s independent arbitrator, Martin F. Scheinman, a second person familiar with the process said, also on condition of anonymity, because no announcement had been made.<\/p>\n
Because this would be Profar\u2019s second infraction, an appeal would take place after a suspension was announced. <\/p>\n
An All-Star in 2024, Profar was suspended for 80 games last March 31<\/a> following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that helps production of testosterone. He issued a statement then saying: \u201cI would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB\u2019s decision.\u201d<\/p>\n His agent, Dan Lozano, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n Profar homered in his return from suspension on July 2<\/a> and finished with a .245 average, 14 homers, 43 RBIs and a .787 OPS in 80 games. He batted .280 in 2024, when he set career highs with 24 homers, 85 RBIs and an .839 OPS.<\/p>\n Profar said at the start of spring training that he had sports hernia surgery in November, requiring a six-week recovery time. He has appeared in four spring training games this year, going 3 for 10 with three RBIs.<\/p>\n A native of Cura\u00e7ao, Profar had been set to play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n Under the suspension, he would be ineligible for the postseason.<\/p>\n Profar would lose his $15 million salary for this year as part of a $42 million, three-year contract through 2027<\/a>. He lost half his $12 million salary in 2025 due to the initial suspension.<\/p>\n He would be the seventh player suspended 162 games for a second PED infraction after New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia<\/a> (July 2015), Cleveland outfielder Marlon Byrd<\/a> (June 2016), free agent catcher Cody Stanley<\/a> (July 2016), Houston pitcher Francis Martes<\/a> (February 2020), Mets second baseman Robinson Can\u00f3<\/a> (November 2020) and Milwaukee pitcher J.C. Mejia<\/a> (September 2023).<\/p>\n Mejia received a lifetime ban in February 2016<\/a> after a third positive test, the only player to be given a permanent ban since drug testing with penalties started in 2004.<\/p>\n