A rift is forming inside the MLB Players Association, with the union’s defense of Jurickson Profar turning player against player.

As the MLBPA defends Jurickson Profar, not everyone in the league is on board. One 2x All-Star pitcher has publicly broken ranks, sending a blunt message that the union is on the wrong side of the fight.

After Profar’s doping saga came to light, Braves manager Walt Weiss expressed his disappointment. Yet, per the MLBPA, the 162-game suspension is a harsh call on Jurickson Profar. But All-Star pitcher Miles Mikolas is not happy with the MLBPA backing Profar.

“Understand guys want to be healthy, guys want to perform… there’s more honest ways to do it.”

Mikolas continued, “The PA doing anything to help them out, I would have to say I’m mostly against that.”

Jurickson Profar entered 2026 under scrutiny after MLB announced a 162-game PED suspension. The ban followed his 80-game suspension in 2025 for testing positive for hCG.

Two violations in consecutive seasons quickly turned Profar into an uncomfortable headline. The second offense wipes out his entire $15 million salary for the 2026 season.

Veteran Kevin Pillar wrote online that the situation looked bad for Profar and baseball. Inside Atlanta’s camp, the news landed during spring preparation after a difficult 76-86 season.

Matt Olson, who hit 34 homers across the last two seasons, admitted disappointment to reporters. Pitcher Chris Sale called the suspension not good news, but says that the team will move on without him.

Profar was expected to handle designated hitter duties after hitting 14 homers in 2025. But the frustration for some players deepened when the MLB Players Association announced plans to appeal the suspension.

That decision quickly drew criticism from Washington starter Miles Mikolas during a Foul Territory appearance.

Mikolas said players know the rules and steroids remain clearly banned under MLB policy. He argued the union should not step in unless testing procedures were clearly wrong. Mikolas added that Jurickson Profar has plenty of money and time now to defend himself legally.

The controversy also spilled into the World Baseball Classic camp for the Netherlands team.

Reports said Profar left the stadium quietly after a tune-up game without speaking. Manager Andruw Jones told reporters that players understand testing rules and must accept consequences for their actions.

Because of the ban, Jurickson Profar cannot represent the Netherlands in the WBC.

Under MLB rules, a second PED offense automatically triggers a 162-game suspension. A third violation would bring a lifetime ban from affiliated baseball leagues.

The Atlanta Braves already entered 2026 after a losing season and several spring injuries to pitchers.

Players like Mike Yastrzemski, Sean Murphy, and Drake Baldwin may absorb extra pressure. For Profar, two suspensions in two seasons could shadow any future contract talks across baseball.

Jurickson Profar might have just ended his career

Right now, every Braves player is more disappointed than angry with Jurickson Profar. Profar was supposed to play an important role in the team, but might not even get a chance again. And things might be even worse.

Jurickson Profar is already 33 and is reaching a stage where he will start to move past his prime. His stats will start to go down, and he will only regress. He is already at a disadvantage when compared to other players.

And when we add this doping scandal, every team in the league will be thinking 100 times before signing him when his Braves contract ends after the 2027 season.

The 2027 season might not even happen or will be a reduced season due to the CBA and salary cap negotiations. This means that the Braves might already be planning a future without Profar.

Every team now knows that Profar has just one strike left, and then he is done in baseball. And with Profar not having a great record (.245 AVG in 2025), teams might not be willing to give him a contract.

Does that mean that we have already seen the last of Jurickson Profar?