Cincinnati, Cleveland minor leaguers given drug suspensions
NEW YORK (AP) Cincinnati pitcher Jake Ehret has been suspended for the first 50 games of the season under baseball's minor league drug program following a second positive test for a drug of abuse.
Cleveland outfielder Carlos Ventura was banned for 72 games after a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Stanozolol, the commissioner's office said Friday.
Ehret, a 24-year-old right-hander, is on the roster of Triple-A Louisville of the International League after going 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA in 36 relief appearances last year at Class A Daytona of the Florida State League and Double-A Pensacola of the Southern League.
The 19-year-old Ventura hit .161 with three homers, 20 RBIs and 42 strikeouts in 124 at-bats with the Dominican Summer League Indians.
There have been 18 players suspended this year under the minor league program and three under the major league program: Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read and Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball