Earlier this week, Major League Baseball suspended two minor leaguers for performance-enhancing drug use. Today, an MLB player - Philadelphia Phillies reliever Daniel Stumpf - was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a banned substance.
MLB announced the decision on Twitter Thursday morning.
Phillies LHP Daniel Stumpf suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2016
LHP Daniel Stumpf has been placed on the restricted list and LHP Elvis Araujo has been recalled from Lehigh Valley (AAA).
— Phillies (@Phillies) April 14, 2016
Here's the team's statement on Stumpf:
"The Phillies support Major League Baseball's Joint Prevention and Treatment program and are disappointed to hear today's news of Daniel's violation."
Stumpf, 25, tested positive for an anabolic steroid called dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, reported Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Phillies have recalled reliever Elvis Araujo from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Stumpf's roster spot. He'll be suspended without pay, which will cost him $223,000 of his $507,500 salary for the 2016 season.
Gelb also noted that Stumpf's locker was emptied after the Phillies clubhouse was open to reporters this morning.
The left-hander was selected in the ninth round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. The Phillies snagged him in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason along with outfielder Tyler Goeddel. Stumpf has appeared in three games for the Phillies this year, but he's allowed three earned runs on one hit and two walks in just 2/3 of an inning.
Philadelphia's bullpen is already a lackluster unit, and the demotion of Stumpf won't help. The team released veteran Edward Mujica before the season started and sent Andrew Bailey down to the minors.
However, Araujo has MLB experience and could be an addition to the bullpen. In 40 games last year (his debut season), the left-hander registered a 3.38 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 34-2/3 innings. The problem was that he allowed five earned runs in six games (5-2/3 innings) this spring, which was likely the reason he started the year off at Lehigh Valley.
He'll get another opportunity to prove himself on the rebuilding Phillies.
