Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Orelvis Martinez was suspended 80 video games Sunday for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug coverage, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Martinez examined optimistic for Clomiphene, a drug that’s generally utilized in fertility drugs, per the Mayo Clinic. In a press release, the 22-year-old revealed he and his girlfriend have been attempting to begin a household, and her prescription contained the banned substance.
“We needed to maintain this matter non-public, even inside our household, and trusted the physician who assured us this remedy didn’t embody performance-enhancing medication,” Martinez wrote. “Due to this fact, I made the error of not disclosing this to my group or the MLBPA. With that stated, I took full duty for my actions and accepted my suspension.”
Martinez’s suspension is dear for the Blue Jays (35-41). He was referred to as up this week after star shortstop Bo Bichette was positioned on the 10-day injured listing with a calf harm. In his main league debut towards the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, the infielder flashed promise, going 1-for-3.
Earlier than the beginning of the season, CBS Sports activities’ R.J. Anderson rated him because the third-best prospect in Toronto’s farm system. In 63 video games with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he hit 16 residence runs and posted an .866 OPS.
“We had been each shocked and upset to be taught of Orelvis Martinez’s suspension,” Blue Jays normal supervisor Ross Atkins stated, by way of MLB.com. “We are going to do all the pieces in our energy to make sure Orelvis has discovered from this error. Orelvis has our help, and we all know he’ll get by means of this.”
With Martinez out of the lineup, Anderson recommended the Blue Jays will possible depend on Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Spencer Horwitz. They might additionally transfer third baseman Ernie Clement to second.
