The Drug bug has struck again.
ESPN.com reported that three minor leaguers have been suspended for PED’s and a drug of abuse.
Miguel Negron, an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate Charlotte Knights, has been suspended 50 games for a second positive test for a drug of abuse.
Negron 27, had a very respectable season in 2009. He batted .279 with four home runs, and 38 RBI in 103 games.
Currently, Negron has spent the 2009 off-season playing for Lobos de Arecibo, of the Puerto Rican Winter League. His numbers have also improved since the end of the regular season. So far, Negron is batting .313 in 28 games while increasing his .OPS almost 200 points, due in large part to his .443 OBP.
Rony Bautista, who did not play professionally for the New York Yankees in 2009, was assigned to Yankees Dominican Summer League. According to the Commissioners office, Bautista was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a metabolite of Boldenone.
21 year-old Roberto Toribio of the Los Angeles Angels, who also played for the clubs Dominican Summer League team, has also been suspended 50 games for testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.
In the 2009 season Toribio went 0-3 with a 3.91 ERA with 18 strikeouts in just over 25 innings. His season was literally a tale of two halves.
In the first half of the season, Toribio went 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA; opponents hit a hefty .314 against him.
Toribio put all the pieces together in the second half.
His 0-1 record does not show the improvement, however the statistics sure do.
In 11 innings of work, Toribio compiled a 2.38 ERA, his strikeouts decreased (10-8), control improved (seven walks compared to 13), and opponents hit a paltry .186.
Devon Teeple is an author for the Business of Sports Network, which includes the Biz of Baseball, the Biz of Football, the Biz of Basketball and the Biz of Hockey. He is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals & Gateway Grizzlies. Devon is also available for hire or freelance opportunities.
Devon is a former student within Sports Management Worldwide’s Baseball General Manager Class. Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective and is a intern with The Football Outsiders and contributor with the Plymouth River Eels.
Currently, Devon is a Branch Manager at a financial institution in Southern Ontario Canada. He can be reached at devon@thegmsperspective.com or devon@businessofsportsnetwork.com
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