Dominican lefthander Erick Hurtado agreed to a deal with the Cardinals last month, but now that deal is off after he tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid commonly sold as Winstrol and frequently used by amateur players in Latin America.

Hurtado, a 17-year-old from Santo Domingo, received a 50-game suspension from MLB, which will begin if and when he signs a contract, since he's now a free agent, according to a press release from MLB. Hurtado, who is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, was throwing around 86-88 mph last year around July 2, but his velocity was up to the 88-91 mph range before he signed. Trainers in the Dominican Republic are often known by only one name or a nickname, and sources could only identify Hurtado's trainer as a man named Lucas.

Free agent lefthander Justin Dowdy refused to take a Major League Baseball-issued drug test, triggering a 50-game suspension that will begin upon his signing with an affiliated organization.

The 28-year-old Dowdy spent most of last season with the Giants' Triple-A Fresno affiliate, appearing in 36 games and notching a 39-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44 2/3 relief innings. San Francisco nabbed Dowdy in the 2010 minor league Rule 5 draft, selecting him from the Rays, who in turn had signed him out of the independent American Association in August 2010.

Rockies minor league lefthander Joe Torres received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for an amphetamine, a performance-enhancing substance under baseball's drug program. Major League Baseball made the announcement today.

The 29-year-old Torres spent all but one performance last year with Double-A Tulsa, logging 55 1/3 innings over 51 appearances. He struck out 62 and walked 23 while allowing 45 hits. Torres attained free agency after the season and quickly re-upped with Colorado.

The 10th overall pick by the Angels in 2000, Torres has spent the bulk of his pro career in Double-A. He moved to the bullpen full-time in ’06 and also has pitched for the White Sox (twice), Rangers, Dodgers and Rockies organizations.

A pair of Mets minor leaguers failed second tests for a "drug of abuse" and received 50-game suspensions, the commissioner's office announced. Righthander Scott Moviel and catcher Dock Doyle can return to play in June after their suspensions expire.

A second-round selection from Lakewood, Ohio, in ’07, Moviel spent the past two seasons with high Class A St. Lucie, going 13-22, 4.93 in 53 starts (plus 13 relief appearances). Last season he went 5-10, 5.10 and struck out 66 and walked 34 in 125 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-11 Moviel turned down a chance to play basketball at North Carolina State to sign with New York out of high school for $414,000.

A star performer with Coastal Carolina, Doyle has moved slowly in pro ball, and he has caught just 62 games over the past two seasons. An ’08 fifth-rounder, he batted .296/.359/.437 in 71 at-bats for St. Lucie last season.

Mariners minor league catcher Christian Carmichael received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for Methylhexaneamine, a performance-enhancing substance, the commissioner's office announced.

Seattle made Carmichael a sixth-round pick in ’10, drafting him from Mililani (Hawaii) High. The 19-year-old spent the past two seasons in the Rookie-level Arizona League, catching 15 total games and going 7-for-52 (.135) at the plate.

On the heels of an active week for drug-related suspensions, the commissioner's office today announced that Angels minor league righty reliever Danny Reynolds must sit out 50 games this season before he can begin play. The 20-year-old recently failed his second test for a drug of abuse.

A sixth-round pick in ’09 from Las Vegas' Durango High, Reynolds spent each of the past two seasons in the Rookie-level Orem bullpen. He finished third in the Pioneer League with nine saves last season while notching a 4.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 29 1/3 innings.

The strong-bodied, 6-foot Reynolds struck out 24 and walked five last season, showing one of the better fastballs in the PL. He sat at 93-95 mph and touched 98 according to league managers, backing it up with a power slider.

The commissioner's office announced drug-related penalties for six minor league players last week. All six received 50-game suspensions for violating the minor league drug prevention and treatment program.

Jan. 26

Free agent righthander Chaz Roe tested positive for an amphetamine. The 25-year-old pitched for the Mariners' Triple-A Tacoma affiliate last season, going 0-7, 6.59 in 33 appearances (10 starts) and posting an 83-to-38 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 99 2/3 innings. The Rockies selected Roe with the 32nd pick in the ’05 draft and traded him to Seattle for Jose Lopez in December ’10. He spent the past two seasons in Triple-A but has not reached the majors.

Free agent corner outfielder Smaily Borges refused to take a drug test, triggering his suspension. The 28-year-old Cuban, whom the Cubs released on Dec. 12, played for low Class A Peoria last season and batted .233/.278/.353 in 133 at-bats. [...] Continue Reading »

Two minor leaguers drew 50-game suspensions from the commissioner's office for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Both suspensions are effective at the start of the 2012 season.

Nationals righthander Zechry Zinicola, 26, was suspended for a second violation for a drug of abuse. The 2006 sixth-round pick out of Arizona State had his best season in 2011, tossing just 40 innings with a 44-13 strikeout-walk ratio while going 3-1, 2.01 between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He's posted 49 saves and a 4.05 ERA in 293 career innings, allowing just 17 home runs.

Giants catcher Drew Stiner was suspended after testing positive for an amphetamine, falling under MiLB's performance-enhancing drug policy. Stiner, 19, signed as a 43rd-round pick out of Owasso (Okla.) High in 2011 and was a teammate of Orioles first-rounder Dylan Bundy. He signed in mid-August and has yet to make his pro debut.

Yankees minor league righthander Daniel Gil and a pair of Venezuelan Summer League Phillies have earned suspensions for failed drug tests.

The 22-year-old Gil tested positive for Sibutramine, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the minor league drug prevention and treatment program. Signed out of Mexico in December 2005, Gil made 32 appearances (seven starts) for high Class A Tampa, going 7-2, 4.66 with 48 strikeouts and 28 walks in 77 1/3 innings.

Phillies righthander Ronald Mendez and lefthander Audrys Mora each received a 25-game suspensions for a "violation of the minor league drug program," according to a press release from Major League Baseball.

Detroit Tigers farmhand Timo Perez, who helped the Mets reach the World Series back in 2000, was among four minor league players who were suspended by the commissioner's office Tuesday for violating the league's drug policies.

Perez got a 50-game suspension for testing positive for Ritalinic Acid and Methylphenidate. Both drugs are used to treat attention deficit disorder. Perez has more than 600 big league games under his belt but has been in the minors since 2007; the 36-year-old hit .304/.344/.410 at Triple-A Toledo this season. (Note: The Tigers released Perez subsequent to the suspension's announcement, according to the International League transactions page.)

Athletics outfielder Mitch LeVier, a ninth-round pick in 2008 out of Fullerton (Calif.) JC, was suspended for 50 games for a second violation for using a drug of abuse. LeVier hit .218/.266/.395 with 15 home runs at high Class A Stockton this season. [...] Continue Reading »

Mets righthander Brandon Moore was suspended 50 games by the commissioner's office for a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Moore, 25, tested positive for a drug of abuse. He went 10-8, 4.47 at Double-A Binghamton, leading the team in innings pitched (133), strikeouts (105) and wins.

On a day when Elizer Alfonzo was suspended 100 games for a second violation of Major League Baseball's drug program, three minor leaguers also were suspended by the commissioner's office for drug offenses, including ex-big leaguer Rhyne Hughes.

A first baseman who got 47 at-bats last year for the Orioles, Hughes received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for an amphetamine. He played at Triple-A Norfolk this season, batting .249/.321/.465 with 15 home runs. His suspension will begin next season. [...] Continue Reading »

Phillies 2008 supplemental first-round pick Zach Collier was suspended Thursday by Major League Baseball for 50 games after testing positive for an amphetamine.

A pair of minor league free agents, pitcher Alejandro Montas and catcher Gustavo Parra, also were suspended.

Collier struggled with injuries and his own lack of power in his first two full pro seasons, falling out of the Phillies' Top 30 prospects. But he had a decent season in 2011, hitting .255/.328/.349 with 35 stolen bases in 48 attempts, and he'd finished on a strong note, going 8-for-19 in September (.421). He'll serve his suspension in the first 50 games of 2012.

Montas and Parra previously were in the Orioles organization in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. Montas posted a 12.00 ERA there this summer, while Parra had hit .186.

The commissioner's office today announced 50-game suspensions for two minor league players following their violations of the game's drug prevention and treatment program.

Double-A Tennessee utilityman Matt Camp failed a second test for a "drug of abuse" to earn his suspension. A Cubs 13th-rounder from North Carolina State in 2006, he batted .169/.289/.246 in 65 at-bats for the Smokies. The 27-year-old Camp also appeared in 58 games for Triple-A Iowa, batting .209/.259/.262 in 187 at-bats. He plays center field, shortstop and second base.

Righthander Adam Osteen spent about two weeks under contract with the Diamondbacks this summer, but now he'll have to sit out 50 games before he can suit up for another organization. The 23-year-old tested positive for Methasterone and metabolites of Methandienone, according to an MLB press release. A product of Southeastern (Fla.), Osteen played in the independent Frontier and Pecos leagues this season prior to signing with Arizona. He appeared in five games for short-season Yakima, pitching 6 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits, two walks and six runs.

Mike Jacobs mashed 32 home runs for the 2008 Marlins, but now he may be best remembered one day as the first player to test positive for human growth hormone. His failed test is the first announced by Major League Baseball since it began conducting blood tests for HGH for minor league players. Jacobs, who plays first base for the Rockies' Triple-A Colorado Springs affiliate, will begin serving a 50-game suspension immediately.

The 30-year-old Jacobs signed a minor league deal with Colorado last December, and he batted .298/.376/.534 with 23 homers in 429 at-bats in Triple-A this season. His production had trended up after the all-star break (1.056 OPS since July 14, compared with .867 before) as Colorado Springs enjoyed two lengthy homestands in its hitter-friendly park.

Jacobs burst on the scene in 2005, slugging 11 homers in 30 games for the Mets after a late-August callup. That offseason, New York packaged the 25-year-old slugger in a deal for the Marlins' Carlos Delgado, and Jacobs enjoyed his best years with Florida, batting .258/.314/.483 (105 OPS+) over 1,499 plate appearances.

Jacobs qualified for arbitration following the 2008 season, so the Marlins hurriedly traded him to the Royals for Leo Nunez, Florida's current closer. Kansas City non-tendred Jacobs following the ’09 season, and since then he's bounced from the Mets to the Blue Jays to the Rockies on minor league deals.

Postscript: Just hours after MLB announced Jacobs' suspension, the Rockies released the veteran first baseman. (Hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors.) Jacobs must serve the entirety of his 50-game suspension if he latches on with another organization.

Cardinals top prospect Shelby Miller was left behind on Double-A Springfield's current road trip as he serves a team-imposed suspension.

While Cardinals officials said they would not discuss the specifics of the reasons for the suspension, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that it is tied to an altercation at an apartment complex that involved alcohol. Miller does not turn 21 until October.

The team had previously announced publicly that Miller was being skipped for one start to limit his number of innings.

Miller is 9-6, 2.93 between stops at high Class A Palm Beach and Springfield this season. The hard-throwing righthander was the Cardinals' first-round pick in 2009 out of Brownwood, Texas.

Yankees minor league lefthander Steve Evarts tested positive for metabolites of Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance, and received a 50-game suspension. Major League Baseball announced the penalty on Friday evening, Aug. 5.

The 23-year-old Evarts did not pitch in 2009 or ’10, signed with the Yankees last December and made just seven starts for low Class A Charleston this season. He went 1-5, 5.65 with 27 strikeouts, 21 walks and 42 hits allowed in 36 2/3 innings.

The Braves drafted Evarts in the supplemental first round (43rd overall) of the ’06 draft from Tampa's Robinson High. They released him on June 23, 2009, after he made just 22 appearances in three seasons. Trouble has followed Evarts since high school. He was arrested in 2006 on felony mischief charges and arrested again in 2010 for felony battery and marijuana possession.

Major League Baseball has suspended one of Cincinnati's top pitching prospects for lying about his age, a source familiar with the case told Baseball America.

Righthander Jonathan Correa, who entered the year ranked 26th on the Reds Top 30 prospects list, was placed on the disqualified list and received a one-year suspension from MLB for lying about his age. Correa's real age or identity were not immediately known and a Reds official did not return a call yesterday afternoon seeking comment. BA will update with more details as they become available. [...] Continue Reading »

Reds minor league righthander Daniel Tuttle received a 50-game suspension after a second violation of the minor league drug program for a drug of abuse. A fifth-round pick in 2009, he signed out of Randleman (N.C.) High for $200,000.

The 20-year-old Tuttle made 11 starts for low Class A Dayton this season, going 4-3, 4.87 with 50 strikeouts, 21 walks and a 1.38 WHIP in 57 1/3 innings, though his most recent action had come in the Rookie-level Arizona League. In 23 innings for the AZL Reds he notched 35 strikeouts and nine walks in 23 innings.

Four Dominican Summer League pitchers recently received 50-game suspensions for testing positive for performance-enhancing substances:

• Cubs righthander Yomar Morel (metabolite of Boldenone)

• Astros righthander Manuel Sanchez (metabolites of Stanozolol)

• Blue Jays righthander Aderly de la Cruz (metabolites of Nandrolone) and lefthander Luillyn Guillen (metabolites of Stanozolol)

If righthander Luis Vizcaino returns to affiliated ball, the game won't exactly welcome him back with open arms. Before suiting up for a minor league club, the 36-year-old free agent would first have to serve a 50-game suspension. The office of the commissioner announced today that Vizcaino tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance.

The Yankees signed Vizcaino to a minor league deal in early January, but they changed course in February and voided the deal. He did not pitch professionally in 2010, and his time with the ’09 Indians ended on a sour note. He appeared in 11 games for Cleveland and gave up seven runs on eight hits (plus 12 walks) in 11 2/3 innings. [...] Continue Reading »