Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games without pay for performance-enhancing drug use.

Major League Baseball announced Monday that Profar tested positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in violation of the league’s joint drug prevention and treatment program.

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, 32, 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.”

RED SOX, CROCHET agree TO $170M DEAL >> Ace left-hander Garrett Crochet has agreed to a record-breaking $170 million, six-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Monday night on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. ESPN was the first to report on the agreement.

The contract kicks in next year, and Crochet can opt out after the 2030 season. It is the largest deal ever for a pitcher with four-plus years of major league service time.

MISCELLANY >> Aaron Civale, 29, joined the long list of Milwaukee Brewers pitchers on the injured list on Monday. Civale strained his left hamstring Sunday during the Brewers’ 12-3 loss to the New York Yankees. He allowed five runs and four hits in three innings. ... Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser is expected to miss at least six weeks with a broken left thumb.

REDS 14, RANGERS 3 >> Elly De La Cruz had a single, double and two home runs for a career-high seven RBIs, Brady Singer pitched seven scoreless innings in his Cincinnati debut and the host Reds routed Texas on Monday.

Singer, 28, became the first Reds pitcher with seven-plus scoreless innings in a debut since Tom Seaver on June 18, 1977, against Montreal.

ORIOLES 8, RED SOX 5 >> Tyler O’Neill had four hits in his home debut for Baltimore and the Orioles used a pair of big offensive innings to beat Boston.

The Orioles scored four runs in the first and four more in the eighth in their home opener.

PHILLIES 6, ROCKIES 1 >> Edmundo Sosa ripped a two-out, go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning and Kyle Schwarber followed with a mammoth homer to center field to rally host Philadelphia to a win over Colorado.

METS 10, MARLINS 4 >> Pete Alonso hit a grand slam and visiting New York beat Miami. Starling Marte, Luis Torrens and Brandon Nimmo also went deep for the Mets.