Major League Baseball is not kidding about their strict drug policy. On Tuesday the league suspended five minor league players - two within the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization and three free agents - after they tested positive for banned substances.
There have been clusters of suspensions among minor league players throughout the offseason, with New York Mets prospect L.J. Mazzilli being one of the more notable names. Interestingly enough, a majority of these suspensions have been for drugs of abuse. Two such bans were handed down to Los Angeles Dodgers' prospects Theo Alexander and Robert Carson, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
Alexander, a 20-year-old outfielder, and Carson, a 26-year-old reliever, received 50-game suspensions after testing positive for marijuana. An anonymous source told the Los Angeles Times this information since it's usually reported that players are suspended for a "drug of abuse" in this case and the specifics aren't revealed. Alexander has spent the past three seasons in the Arizona Rookie League and owns a stat line of .233/.315/.357 with 43 runs scored, eight home runs and 44 RBIs in 97 games. Carson reached the majors in 2012 and 2013 with the Mets, but his 6.82 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 31 games kept him in the minors for 2014.
This was their second positive test for a drug of abuse.
As for the others, free-agent pitchers Kramer Champlin and Kyle Simon were banned 50 games following a second positive test for a drug of abuse, and free-agent pitcher Chad James received the same punishment for failing a drug test for amphetamine, according to Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports' HardballTalk.
Champlin, 24, spent four minor league seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays before hitting free agency after 2014. He amassed a 14-10 record with a 4.01 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 86 games (12 starts) in the Gulf Coast Rookie League, Class Short-Season A Vancouver, Class-A Lansing and Advanced Class-A Dunedin.
Simon, 24, spent four minor league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies before becoming a free agent. In stints between Class Short-Season A and Triple-A, the right-hander was 14-20 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 139 games (14 starts).
James, 24, was in the Florida/Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers farm systems up until his free-agent status. In five seasons he never got past the Advanced Class-A level and compiled a 26-46 record with a 4.55 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 105 games (104 starts).