Major League Baseball

D-backs, Pirates minor league pitchers suspended

Published Jul. 25, 2013 7:21 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arizona pitcher Eric Smith and Pittsburgh pitcher Delvin Hiciano have been suspended for 50 games each for violations of baseball's minor league drug program.

Smith was penalized Thursday for a second violation for a drug of abuse, and Hiciano for a positive test for metabolites of Stanozolol.

A 24-year-old right-hander, Smith is 1-3 with a 7.11 ERA in 32 relief appearances and one start this year for the Mobile BayBears of the Double-A Southern League. He was selected by the Diamondbacks on the second round of the 2009 amateur draft with the 60th overall pick and signed for a $605,700 bonus.

Hiciano, a 21-year-old right-hander, is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in five games this year for the Dominican Summer League Pirates.

There have been 33 suspensions this year under the minor league program, including five this week.