Max Kepler Suspended 80 Games by MLB After Testing Positive for PEDs

Free-agent outfielder Max Kepler was suspended 80 games by MLB on Friday for violating the league's joint drug prevention and treatment program, the league announced.

Kepler tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Epitrenbolone.

The 32-year-old appeared in 127 games with the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2025 season.

Kepler hit .216 with 18 home runs, 19 doubles and 52 RBI during his 2025 campaign while posting a .691 OPS.

A return to the Phillies in free agency was considered unlikely prior to Friday's announcement, per Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Kepler was linked to the Kansas City Royals by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal earlier in the offseason.

In addition to the 80-game suspension, Kepler will be ineligible to compete in the 2026 postseason if he's signed by a team.

The veteran spent the first 10 years of his career with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Phillies for the 2025 season.

Kepler owned a .237/.318/.429 slash line during his tenure in Minnesota, hitting at least 19 homers in five separate seasons. His best year came in 2019, as he posted an .855 OPS while amassing a career-high 36 home runs and 90 RBI in 134 games.