Braves minor leaguer suspended for drugs

Published Dec. 21, 2012 5:17 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK -- A minor league pitcher in the Atlanta Braves' organization has been suspended 50 games following a second violation of a drug of abuse.

Triple-A reliever Billy Bullock was penalized Friday by the commissioner's office.

The 24-year-old right-hander is 11-11 with 50 saves and a 4.33 ERA in four minor league seasons. Bullock split the last two years between Triple-A and Double-A, and has averaged more than a strikeout per inning during his career.

There have been 105 suspensions this year under the minor league drug problem and eight under the major league program.