Max Kepler Suspended 80 Games for PED Use

Major League Baseball announced that former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. The suspension is effective immediately and will sideline Kepler for the first 80-games of the 2026 regular season, along with the 2026 MLB postseason.

In 127 games and 474 plate appearances, Kepler hit .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs while posting a .691 OPS for the 2025 Phillies. Used primarily in a platoon role, he showed moderate pop but struggled to make consistent contact.

Now facing a lengthy suspension, Kepler’s free-agent market and future MLB opportunities are clouded by both performance concerns and this high-profile disciplinary action.