After being suspended for 80 games last season for human chorionic gonadotropin, Atlanta Braves left fielder/designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Profar was set to serve as Atlanta's primary designated hitter this season while making some starts in left field here and there. The Braves' outfield in 2026 should mainly consist of Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II and Mike Yastremski. Eli White and Jorge Mateo will most likely make the 26-man roster as well. Both can play outfield.
Profar's suspension clears a path for another outfielder to be added to the Braves' roster. One option is a former Twins outfielder who signed a minor-league deal with Atlanta in early January.
Former Twins outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. has golden opportunity to make Braves' Opening Day roster after Jurickson Profar suspension
Keirsey, who became a free agent after the Twins designated him for assignment and then non-tendered him in November, struggled significantly with Minnesota last season. In just 88 plate appearances across 74 games, the outfielder slashed .107/.138/.179 with two homers. He mainly served as a pinch-runner, pinch-hitter and a defensive substitute.
Keirsey's poor offensive performance last year may make Atlanta hesitant to start the season with the ex-Twins outfielder on its roster. But the other aspects of his game make him an intriguing option.
If the Braves want to fill the roster vacancy left by Profar's suspension with a strong defender who can steal some bags, Keirsey has a great shot to make the team. He stole 10 bases in 13 attempts last year and posted 2 Outs Above Average (OAA) in just 59 attempts. Additionally, the former Twin's sprint speed (28.5 mph) ranked in the 81st percentile, and his arm strength (87.4 mph) ranked in the 71st percentile last season.
Regarding Keirsey's bat, the outfielder may have struggled last season, but he barely had consistent playing time. While he likely wouldn't get that with Atlanta if he were to make its Opening Day roster, it's hard to imagine he would be as bad at the plate as he was last season.
Keirsey has looked a lot better offensively in Triple-A, holding a career .284/.363/.448 slash line with 19 home runs in 818 plate appearances over 186 games at the highest level of the minors. The 28-year-old clearly possesses the potential to be much better than he was with the Twins in 2025, and he could show that with Atlanta.