Walt Weiss Reacts to Jurickson Profar’s Suspension
The Atlanta Braves manager, Walt Weiss, expressed his disappointment at Jurickson Profar’s suspension for the 2026 season, but remains optimistic about the team’s future. Profar was suspended by Major League Baseball after a second positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. It was expected that Profar, outfielder and designated hitter, would be a key player in Atlanta’s lineup, possibly as the second batter behind Ronald Acuña Jr. Weiss, speaking before the exhibition game against the Colombian team, recalled how the Braves overcame Acuña’s injury in 2021 to win the World Series.Weiss, who was named manager on November 3, after being the bench coach since 2018, stated that he is preparing for the season without Profar, although the latter will appeal the suspension. Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, resulting in a 162-game suspension due to a second violation. In 2024, Profar was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that aids in testosterone production. Drake Baldwin, the NL Rookie of the Year in 2025, was the designated hitter in Wednesday’s game. Weiss expects the designated hitter position to be “pretty fluid” without Profar. Weiss also highlighted the recent signing of Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year, $23 million contract. Yastrzemski, Acuña, and Michael Harris are expected to be the team’s starting outfielders. Eli White could be the fourth outfielder. Mauricio Dubon will start the season as the starting shortstop while Ha-Seong Kim recovers from a finger injury. When Kim returns, Dubon could be another option in the outfield. Weiss emphasized that Profar’s suspension “doesn’t change anything about what we’re doing here. We’re preparing for our season, and it doesn’t change anything about our camp. There will be opportunities created because of this. It’s not something we would have chosen, but that’s where we are, and we’re moving forward. That’s the message, and we have a professional group. They’re handling it very well and are very focused.” Weiss mentioned that he has not spoken with Profar, whom he recently praised for his leadership after his return from last year’s suspension.The moral is that something good will come out of bad news. It tends to happen that way. Someone will step up, someone will get a chance. In 2021, the day we lost Ronald, nobody expected that option. And nobody is taking this option. But, you know what? I really think something good will come out of this.
Walt Weiss
