UPDATE (7/16/18): I have updated this post to reflect the total suspension numbers for the first half of the 2018 season.
After seeing the news of Robinson Canó’s PED-related suspension last week, I decided it was time to update my post from March listing major-league and minor-league players suspended under the PED policy in 2018. Information is courtesy of spotrac.com and milb.com.
Minor-League Suspensions
1/12: Wilfre Delgado, RHP – CHC (72 games, Stanozolol)
1/12: Antonio Police, RHP – BOS (72 games, Boldenone)
1/12: Joel Romero, Free Agent RHP (80 games, Stanozolol)
1/19: Tucker Baca, LHP – BAL (60 games, Dehydro-chlormethyltestosterone)
1/23: Dean Deetz, RHP (MLB suspension but player with prospect eligibility) – HOU (80 games, Dehydro-chlormethyltestosterone)
1/26: Ryan Newell, RHP – MIA (80 games, Dehydro-chlormethyltestosterone)
1/26: Jose Santiago, RHP – SEA (140 games, Drostanolone and Oxandrolone)
2/7: Raudy Read, C – WAS (80 games, Boldenone)
2/8: Jake Romanski, C – BOS (100 games, amphetamine)
2/8: Landon Hughes, Free Agent RHP (68 games, Dehydro-chlormethyltestosterone)
2/10: Alex Cunningham, RHP – SD (50 games, amphetamine)
2/16: Carlos Ventura, OF – CLE (72 games, Stanozolol)
3/16: Thomas Pannone, LHP – CLE (80 games, Dehydro-chlormethyltestosterone)
4/4: Joel Bender, LHP – CIN (50 games, : amphetamine/methamphetamine)
4/4: Nathanael Heredia, LHP – STL (72 games, Stanozolol)
4/4: Andrew Maggi, SS – CLE (50 games, amphetamine)
4/6: Alsis Herrera, LHP – CLE (80 games, Stanozolol)
4/6: Luis Diaz, RHP – ARI (72 games, Stanozolol)
5/3: Eric Marinez, OF/SS – OAK (80 games, Clomiphene)
5/3: Walter Rasquin, OF/2B – NYM (50 games, methamphetamine)
5/18: Joel Espinal, RHP – TOR (80 games, Stanozolol)
5/18: Domingo Jimenez, RHP – CLE (80 games, Stanozolol)
Breakdown by Position: P – 16; C – 2; Utility – 2; SS – 1; OF – 1
Major-League Suspensions
1/22: Dean Deetz (see above)
2/10: Alex Cunningham (see above)
2/21: Forrest Whitley, P – HOU (50 games, stimulant)
3/10: Jorge Bonifacio, RF – KC (80 games, Boldenone)
3/18: Jorge Polanco, SS – MIN (80 games, Stanozolol)
5/15: Robinson Canó, 2B – SEA (80 games, Furosemide – PED masking agent)
Note: Some players listed as having suspensions due to PED violations on the spotrac.com page I consulted turned out not to be suspended for PEDs but rather other drugs upon further research, so they are not listed.
Breakdown by Position: P – 2; 2B – 1; SS – 1; OF – 1
Breakdown by Organization for MiLB and MLB Suspensions: ARI – 1; BAL – 1; BOS – 2; CHC – 1; CIN – 1; CLE – 5; Free Agent – 2; HOU – 2; KC – 1; MIA – 1; MIN – 1; NYM – 1; OAK – 1; SD – 1; SEA – 2; STL – 1; WAS – 1; TOR – 1
My Takeaways
Pitcher continues to lead as the position with the most suspensions. Cleveland has also overtaken Houston as the organization with the most suspensions at all levels. This is somewhat funny given Cleveland SP Trevor Bauer recently accused Houston pitchers of cheating. While Houston does not exactly have a clean record, Cleveland seems to be home to the most proven cheaters at present.
Also, we are not yet halfway through the season but more than half of all franchises have racked up at least one PED suspension. There are far more minor-league players with suspensions at this point in the season, which means they are either worse at hiding it or they are more likely to use PEDs in hopes this will help them play well enough to be called up.
Categories