LA Dodgers Team Rumors: Prospect Adrian Salcedo Handed 144-Game Suspension for PEDs Use
For prospect Adrian Salcedo of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the latest decision of the MLB is a clear sign that it is game over for him. The league announced that he has been suspended for 144 games based on baseball's minor league drug program after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug called Boldenone.
The Associated Press revealed that this isn't the first offense for Salcedo, who also was suspended for 80 games last season when he was with the Minnesota Twins. At that time, he was caught with another PED in his system called Tamoxifen, along with a banned stimulant called Heptaminol.
The 25-year old signed with Dodgers back in September and he can only start serving the new suspension once he's done with the current one.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Salcedo's career is marred with all those suspensions, but he did play the majority of his time in the minor league system for the Minnesota Twins, where he had a decent contribution. He appeared in 12 games last year and posted a 4.70 ERA with a 0-2 record. He also had seven appearances back in August, both at the Double A and Triple A.
In totality, there are 23 players in the minor league program who have been suspended for violating the substance abuse policy, but majority of them are first and second-time offenders. Of all the suspensions this year, the one handed out to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Skylar Hunter may be the most high profile because the 22-year old has been playing great in the Class A New York-Penn League.
But in Salcedo's case, who has been suspended three times already, another positive test will result to a lifetime ban. The right-hander's season is all but over and if he manages to return after this season, a lot of questions will linger on. The Dodgers and other teams will certainly have some reservations in giving him another chance.
