Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | MLB Suspends Rays Prospect Ryan Brett, Two Bowling Green Teammates

Three Rays minor leaguers will miss the conclusion of the season, including the low Class A Midwest League playoffs, following a Major League Baseball announcement that each has tested positive for methamphetamine and an amphetamine. All three Bowling Green players received 50-game suspensions without pay, effective immediately.

Second baseman Ryan Brett, who headed the organization's depth chart at the position coming into the year, is the most notable name on the list. The 20-year-old batted .285/.348/.390 with six homers and 19 doubles in 410 at-bats for Bowling Green. A 2010 third-rounder out of high school, Brett ranked second in the MWL with 48 stolen bases in 56 attempts.

A pair of Hot Rods relievers also face 50-game suspensions: righthander Charlie Cononie (24th round, 2011, Towson) and lefty Justin Woodall (26th round, 2010, Alabama).

Bowling Green clinched a MWL playoff spot by virtue of capturing a first-half wild card.

Aug. 24 Update

According to Brett's agent Nik Lubisich, the Rays prospect claims the positive test could only have been triggered by a "single incident in which the evening before this random drug test he took an energy pill that was described to him as caffeine-like, but which apparently turned out to be a common form of attention-deficit disorder medication Adderall."

Lubisich goes on to say in a statement that Adderall is a prescription stimulant which contains an amphetamine and is also known to show a positive for methamphetamines on drug tests.

Even though ADD medications are on the MLB banned substance list, the agent writes, their intentional and legal use is not uncommon. Roughly 8-10 percent of all MLB players—including 105 players during the 2010 season—have been granted a "therapeutic use exception" to take ADD medication with a doctor's prescription.

Ryan Brett's failed drug test was due to taking one Adderall, the widely used ADD medication, which is used by a number of MLB players (like Jeff Saltalamacchia) who have prescriptions for it. Ryan was unaware this was a banned substance and what the ingredients were. Huge and unfortunate mistake for these players who were not using "meth" in the traditional recreational sense.

Posted by JC | August 23, 2012 at 9:30 pm | Shortcut

Under the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, this suspension only comes after a SECOND confirmed positive test. If any of these guys didn't know it was an issue despite the mandatory compliance meetings when they signed, AND when they reported for camp each year, AND they didn't know to discontinue use or request a TUE under the very clearly proscribed process for doing so after their first positive test, AND they didn't follow the clear instructions pretty much every agent's office gives their players, AND they didn't disclose it in their med reports with team medical staff, then that's on them.

Posted by David | August 24, 2012 at 1:33 pm | Shortcut

They get tested once and then if the sample has a positive they test the sample again to confirm it wasn't a false positive. They don't tell you that you failed and then test you again down the road and suspend you only after you fail that one too… You can be suspended from the results of a single sample…

Posted by JC | August 24, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Shortcut

Very unfortunate incident for Ryan and his teamates. Ryan has devoted his WHOLE LIFE to baseball. What breaks my heart is that he now has a "reputation". Our family knows firsthand about having a very talented player who no coach wants to put any effort at promoting them because of a "reputation". My thought is that a GOOD coach would be one who would consistently encourage him to stay on the straight and narrow, give the punishment and just MOVE ON. Best wishes on getting through this one Ryan, hopefully with support from coaches (former and present), your agent, family and friends. Maybe "David" above could use this advice instead of just pounding him down further than he must feel already.

Posted by Megan | August 25, 2012 at 10:35 am | Shortcut

Its a very unfortunate reality that in cases like this vindication usually never happens. Professional sports is a high stakes affair with every attempt to get an edge explored very closely. This was a 'scud' missle the league shot at Ryan and it hit very close.. It was not a lethal hit but the next one WILL be. You are far to good of a player with the character the game needs to lower yourself into the shadows of those who can't get it on their own. Learn from this very troubling lesson and don't ever put yourself in this spot again. One time before a random, or 2 times in the off season the league does not care and they will move on without you, don't confuse it..
I am totally sorry to hear about this and have not lost faith in you Ryan but you just gave your second team guy 50 games to show the coaches why he should be playing instead of you.. That could be costly.. Best of luck and we will continue to root for you. Life is full of temptation and sometimes its easier to take the easy way…But so much more rewarding when you get it the right way.

Bob Williams – greensox

Posted by Bob | August 25, 2012 at 7:52 pm | Shortcut

Re: post by David
I agree with all of your points except the one about the second positive test. These guys including Brett all tested positive for Stimulants not "Drugs of abuse". The treatment & punishment for stimulants is treated the same as PED's in the minors. Brett is not on a 40-man roster so he follows the minor league program. I have read the new JDA a few times now and I understand it to be that The FIRST confirmed positive test result for prohinited stimulants gets an automatic 50 game suspension.

Posted by MO | September 5, 2012 at 2:59 pm | Shortcut