Blue Jays prospect Marcus Stroman suspended 50 games: Griffin

Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday that Jays' prospect, righthanded pitcher Marcus Stroman has been suspended 50 games, testing positive for a banned substance that the club identified as Methylhexaneamine, one of 56 stimulants on the MLB list.

Stroman was selected 22nd overall in the June 2012 draft out of Duke University, receiving a signing bonus of $1.8 million. He was awarded as compensation for the Jays not signing their first round pick, Tyler Beede in 2011. Stroman began his career at A-Vancouver, of the Northwest League, then was promoted to AA-New Hampshire. Experts predicted that Stroman could be the first selection from the '12 draft to reach the majors.

"Despite taking precautions to avoid violating the Minor League testing program, I unknowingly ingested a banned stimulant that was in an over-the-counter supplement," Stroman said. "Nonetheless, I accept full responsibility and I want to apologize to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, my family, my teammates, and the Blue Jays fans everywhere. I look forward to putting this behind me and rejoining my teammates.”

Stroman will sit out the last seven games for the Fisher Cats and the first 43 of next season. He will be allowed to participate in spring training and spring games. 

"Obviously, you never expect something like that to happen," Jays' assistant GM Tony LaCava said. "That being said, it's a stiff penalty for him to pay. He unknowingly took a product that was over the counter, had a stimulant in it and the burden is on the player, so he's obviously going to pay the price. To his credit, he's standing up to it. He made a mistake, he ingested it and he's accountable for that. The 50 games is the price he's going to have to pay."

 

 

 

 

Comments

[M. Thompson]

GREAT start to his Major League career.........at least the Blue Jays now know up front that they are getting a druggie. Sad.

[Dirk]

There seems to be a lot of OTC products that contain banned stimulants that are on the MLB's no go list.

Maybe someone at head office should do the research and print out a list, distribute it to each player. That way there is no gray area. Unless the OTC is just a cover up.....?

[Fenderbender]

This shows EXACTLY why drug testing in the MLB is a complete joke.

[Lasagna]

Seems a little harsh to me. More punitive than correctional. 1st offence should have been slap on the wrist and mandatory education in my opinion.

[Bubba]

"it's a stiff penalty for him to pay" I assume that his nearly 2 million signing bonus is not affected; his pay-rate in the minors is chump change; so the only penalty he faces is not being able to reach the majors sooner than later. To me, this seems like the Jays are the one who are actually paying, since Strolman was expected to be in the running for a bullpen spot next year, with the possibility of some time in the majors this year. "It is a stiff penalty for the Jays to pay" seems closer to the facts.

[John]

Keith Law seems to think he can be a Sept. call up and burn off 30 games by sitting on the Jays bench. Anyone know if thats true?