A bevy of new performance-enhancing substance suspensions have come to our attention via an MLB press release. Among the six players, five tested positive for Methylhexaneamine, with the lone exception being "free agent pitcher" Luis Mercedes. He failed a test for the more-common metabolites of Stanozolol and will sit for 50 games if he signs with an organization.

The other five players to garner 50-game suspensions:

• The Mets' bad luck with prep pitchers from the ’09 draft got a little bit worse. Lefthander Zach Dotson, a 13th-round pick who signed for a well-above-slot $500,000, tested positive for Methylhexaneamine and began his suspension. The 19-year-old Dotson went 0-1, 3.31 in four starts in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He struck out 18 and walked nine in 16 innings.

In May, the Mets' top pick in the ’09 draft, prep lefty Steve Matz, had Tommy John surgery.

• A trio of Astros players tested positive for Methylhexaneamine, including righthander Danny Meszaros, a 48th-round pick in ’08 who had pitched his way to Triple-A Round Rock. Shortstop Marcos Cabral and catcher Jon Fixler played for Double-A Corpus Christi.

• Athletics outfielder Zach Hurley, Oakland's 29th-round pick from Ohio State in June, tested positive for Methylhexaneamine. In 59 at-bats for short-season Vancouver, he batted .271/.295/.373 with four doubles.