ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has been suspended for 80 games.

Major League Baseball announced that Profar tested positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in violation of the league’s joint drug prevention and treatment program. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hCG is a hormone that helps in the production of testosterone.

The suspension of Profar is effective immediately. Barring postponed games, Profar would be eligible to return June 29 against Philadelphia and would lose $5,806,440 of his $12 million salary. He is also ineligible for the postseason.

Profar called it the “most difficult day of my baseball career” and said he would never knowingly cheat.

“This is especially painful for me because anyone who knows me and has seen me play knows I am deeply passionate about the game,” he said in a statement. “There is nothing I love more than competing with my teammates and being a fan favorite. I want to apologize to the entire Braves organization, my teammates and the fans.

“It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it. I have been tested my entire career, including eight times last season alone, and have never tested positive. I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.”

The Braves put out a statement in response to the suspension, saying they were “surprised and extremely disappointed.”

“We fully support the program and are hopeful that Jurickson will learn from this experience,” the team said in a statement.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said he spoke to the club and to Profar earlier in the day, but he declined to disclose anything about their conversation.

“He hated it and we hate it for him,” Snitker said.

At the same time, Snitker said: “It’s an opportunity for somebody else to step in and do something really good.”

Profar’s punishment is the second for the Braves. In April 2015, pitcher Andrew McKirahan was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

The team has been plagued by injuries in recent years, including losing four-time All-Star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to a torn his right ACL last May for the second time in his career.

But Snitker expects his group to rally.

“They’ve been tasked with handling a lot of things the last few years, and they’re a really good group about doing it,” he said. “They’re going to keep fighting and working.”

The 32-year-old Profar was an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger last season when he batted .280 and set career highs with 24 homers and 85 RBIs for San Diego. He signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Braves in the offseason.

Profar is the fourth player who has been suspended this year for violating the performance-enhancing substance policy, with the others coming under the minor league program and the program for minor leaguers assigned outside the United States and Canada.

Two players were suspended last year under the major league drug program.