Red Sox Minor Leaguer Tena suspended

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced Thursday that Boston Red Sox Minor League pitcher Francisco Tena has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

This is the second prominent 50-game suspension  to a top a prospect in a week. Earlier in the week  Atlanta Braves Minor League catcher Orinn Sears received the same penalty. The difference is he tested positive for metabolites of Methandienone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Also suspended already this year, Seattle Mariners Minor League outfielder Cavan Cohoes has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol and a substance related to the anabolic androgenic steroid Stenbolone (Methylstenbolone). The suspension of Cohoes, who is currently on the roster of the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners, will be effective at the start of the 2014 Arizona League season.

Detroit Tigers Minor League catcher Ronny Paulino has received a 100-game suspension without pay after testing positive for exogenous Testosterone. The suspension of Paulino, who is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens of the International League, will be effective at the start of the 2014 Toledo season.

Certainly MLB can not be happy with the amount of PED related suspensions already in 2014. Not one single pitch has been thrown and already four organizations have had key prospects violate the league's performance enhancing drug policy.

Other MLB News & Notes

MLBAM is introducing a new video game this year.  R.B.I. Baseball 14, a video game brand not seen in nearly two decades, will return this spring. R.B.I. Baseball 14 is being developed by MLBAM for multi-platform distribution across current and next generation consoles and smartphones and tablets.

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