Marcus Stroman suspended 50 games for banned stimulant
Duke righthander Marcus Stroman, the 2008 Yastrzemski Award winner from Patchogue-Medford High School, throws from an indoor mound in Bellport. He is expected to be selected in the first two rounds in the 2012 MLB Draft. (May 27, 2012) Credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan
Medford's Marcus Stroman, the 22nd overall pick by the Blue Jays in this year's draft, received a 50-game suspension Tuesday for violating Major League Baseball's drug program.
Stroman, 21, tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine while playing for Class A Vancouver, where he made seven appearances this season before his Aug. 1 promotion to Double-A New Hampshire. Stroman was a combined 3-0 with a 3.26 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings over 15 games.
"Despite taking precautions to avoid violating the minor-league testing program, I unknowingly ingested a banned stimulant that was in an over-the-counter supplement," Stroman said in a statement. "Nonetheless, I accept full responsibility and I want to apologize to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, my family, my teammates, and the Blue Jays fans everywhere. I look forward to putting this behind me and rejoining my teammates."
Stroman, a standout at Patchogue-Medford and Duke, did not return a phone message, but his father, Earl, was surprised that his son tested positive for a banned substance and was certain that he had done so by mistake.
"It's a shock," Earl Stroman said. "Unfortunately, with the timing of it coming right after those steroid guys [Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon]. But Marcus isn't involved with any of that stuff."
Stroman signed with Toronto on July 3 for $1.8 million -- the approximate slot value for the 22nd spot in the draft -- and reported to Vancouver. He is the 28th minor-leaguer suspended in August alone and the first this month in the Blue Jays' organization.
"This suspension is unfortunate and we are disappointed by this development," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "The Toronto Blue Jays, however, fully endorse Major League Baseball's drug-testing policy and support the discipline taken today."
Stroman was drafted by the Nationals in 2009 but chose to attend college instead.
