Major League Baseball

Cardinals take shortstop who reportedly tested positive for PEDs in 1st round of MLB draft

Published Jun. 9, 2016 11:17 p.m. ET

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The St. Louis Cardinals decided Delvin Perez was too good to pass up with the 23rd pick of Thursday's MLB draft, despite the 17-year-old shortstop reportedly failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Perez, who played at the International Baseball Academy in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, was expected be a top-five pick — Baseball America had him ranked as the fifth-best prospect — before his stock fell.

According to ESPN's Keith Law, MLB tests the top 200 draft prospects each year for PEDs and illegal drugs. Teams can inquire about the test results of specific players, but a positive test does not disqualify a player from the draft.

Baseball America's scouting report on Perez highlights his "first-step quickness, range to both sides, a plus or better arm, athleticism and smooth infield actions. At the plate he has "excellent bat speed and can hit blistering line drives, but his pitch recognition and plate discipline will need to improve."

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