MiLB News: Three Receive Suspensions for Failed Drug Tests

Tampa Bay Rays 2012 second rounder Spencer Edwards, Indians Minor Leaguer Brian Ruiz, and former Braves farmhand Joe Gardner were all suspended this week for testing positive for banned substances, per Milb.com.

Edwards and Ruiz violated the Minor League Drug and Prevention Program and will thus receive 80-game bans, while Gardner will receive 50 games. Players will often times get warnings after an initial failed test, being suspended for a second offense. All three of these players were serial performance enhancing drug offenders, shown by the length of the suspensions in Edwards and Ruiz’s cases in particular.

Edwards had been fairly unimpressive in three seasons in Rookie and low A-Ball, failing to post an OBP above .300 at any stop. The 21-year old’s best asset is probably his speed, which allowed him to steal double digit bags while playing in just 50 games a year. The center fielder tested positive for Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone, Methasterone and Tamoxifen, which are all performance enhancing drugs.

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Ruiz was a 41st round pick by Cleveland in 2011, but took until 2014 to play his first full season in the Minor Leagues. In 82 games in Class-A ball, the 22-year old had a .667 OPS, with 3 home runs. Problems with strikeouts and his lack of power has led to some disappointing numbers. The 6 foot 3 outfielder tested positive for Methandienone and Oxandrolone, which yielded him his suspension.

Gardner was a 3rd round pick by the Indians in 2009, playing in their Minor League system until 2011. He was traded to the Rockies in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, followed by stops in Chicago and then Atlanta in 2014. The 6 foot 4 righthander was ranked as the 18th best prospect in the Rockies system before the 2013 season. He showed some promise early on in his career, sporting a 2.75 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 28 starts, striking out nearly a batter per inning. His strikeout numbers never really returned to that pace, culminating with just 24 strikeouts in 53 innings last season. His rate stats were solid in 2014, but teams were no longer inclined to be patient with the 26-year old. Unlike Edwards and Ruiz, Gardner was suspended due to a second failed test due to a drug of abuse.

Drugs of abuse are not necessarily performance enhancing, and include cocaine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, and other opiates. Players will definitely get a warning for a first time offense for a drug of abuse, as Gardner was. Since he is not signed by a team currently, he will serve his 50-game suspension as soon as he does sign with another team. It will be tough for any of these players to bounce back after their suspensions, as failed drug tests have a habit of derailing the careers of Minor League players.

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