Fernando Tatis Jr. comments on Braves’ Jurickson Profar suspension

The Braves season couldn’t have started worse. They’re 2-8 and have been shut out in a third of their games. Reynaldo Lopez has a very concerning shoulder injury, and Jurickson Profar was popped for PEDs.

The only notable offseason acquisition played a total of four games in Atlanta before being handed an 80-game suspension, which also makes him ineligible for postseason play. While I’m not going to draw conclusions yet, if Profar returns in July and reverts back to the below average player he was before 2024, it’d be hard to argue that he didn’t swindle the Atlanta Braves out of $36 million.

None of his teammates have come out and reamed him because what he did was selfish and incredibly costly to the entire organization. His former teammate, however, has come to his defense.

“It’s really tough,” Fernando Tatis said. “He’s my brother. I love him to death. Man, I’m here for him. Everybody knows the rules. Everybody knows the process and we just need to follow this process. And, you know, it’s part of it.”

What’s so ironic about this entire situation is Tatis and Profar’s relationship. The two are very close, with Tatis’ dad even “helping” Profar and his approach last season, resulting in a career-year in 2024 en route to All-Star honors for the first time in his career.

The only thing is Fernando Tatis Jr. was also popped for PEDs, testing positive for Clostebol, blaming ringworm medication for the positive test. Of course, Profar claimed he didn’t know about the Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) that he tested positive for either.

Either it’s one big coincidence, or it’s a nefarious plot to get a big payday. For Tatis, he returned and was still one of the game’s best players. The jury is still out on Profar, but the Braves will soon learn whether 2024 was the result of him cheating.

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