The primary two weekends of the 2025 common season are within the books, and it has been fairly eventful for the San Diego Padres. They went undefeated on the primary homestand earlier than the bats went silent within the first two video games of the highway journey.
However there was some disheartening information. Former Padre Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 video games after testing constructive for performance-enhancing medication (PEDs). The unfavourable suggestions from others has compelled me to defend his legacy as a Friar.
Don’t gloat about Profar’s misfortune
Shortly after his suspension announcement, I overheard two Friar Trustworthy discussing Profar’s predicament. Each expressed aid that he didn’t return to the group this season. They went on to invest whether or not Profar might need used PEDs in 2024. Every agreed it might need been the rationale for his inflated statistical numbers final season.
Initially, I wished to reply with a snarky rebuttal. Nevertheless, I noticed it might have been inappropriate to supply a comedic response to the feedback. As an alternative, I’ll attempt to debunk their baseless accusations with widespread sense.
Undoubtedly, the cynical commentary stems from rising up throughout baseball’s “Steroid Period” within the 90s. Followers love to put a scarlet letter on gamers who they consider have taken PEDs. Too many marquee names have come underneath suspicion regardless of publicly declaring their innocence. The lots have convicted them with none proof supplied. The obscure accusations develop louder till a participant’s status is tarnished endlessly.
We are able to solely depend on the details supplied. Profar is suspended for failing an offseason drug check. Nevertheless, there isn’t a proof that he used PEDs at any level final season. Actually, Profar was examined eight occasions with no constructive outcome throughout the 2024 marketing campaign.
Is Profar a late bloomer?
We have to cease with the back-and-forth baseless assumptions on which gamers are taking PEDs for higher outcomes on the plate. As an alternative, allow us to get to the foundation of the issue. The above feedback come from a lack of know-how of Profar’s offensive manufacturing throughout his time in San Diego.
In 5 seasons with the Friars, he had a lifetime batting common of .257, 17 factors larger than his profession common with the Texas Rangers (.240). 2024 was Profar’s career-best offensive manufacturing. He batted .280 with 24 HRs and 84 RBIs. However they weren’t far off his greatest season with the Rangers (.254 with 20 HRs and 77 RBIs) or his lone yr with the Oakland Athletics (.218 with 20 HRs and 67 RBIs).
The outrage must be extra about Profar failing to play as much as expectations. Final season was a breakout marketing campaign for the previous No. 1 total minor league prospect. Earlier than then, inconsistency might greatest describe his on-field manufacturing at his earlier main league stops (Rangers, Athletics, Padres, and Colorado Rockies).
The Atlanta Braves signed him to a big-money contract, as they anticipated Profar to turn out to be a high quality top-of-the-order hitter. These plans are on definitive maintain for the 2025 season.
Profar will be capable to return to the sphere later this season however he won’t be eligible to play within the postseason. MLB prohibits all gamers with PED suspensions from collaborating in October baseball.
Now, Profar should present how a lot he loves baseball. The previous All-Star finds himself in a well-recognized scenario: carrying the black hat on the highway. Profar confirmed he can excel in a hostile surroundings. It’s time for Profar to exhibit the work ethic that made him a Petco Park legend.
We should take him at his phrase that the constructive check outcome was an unlucky mistake. If it comes out later that Profar has masked his PED utilization for an prolonged interval, then all bets are off.
