NEW YORK — Toronto Blue Jays minor-league pitcher Joel Espinal has been suspended 80 games for violating the league's drug program.
Espinal, who plays for Toronto's Class-A affiliate Dunedin of the Florida State League, was penalized Friday by the commissioner's office.
The right-handed reliever tested positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance.
Espinal, 21, was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays in 2015. The native of the Dominican Republic had three strikeouts in three innings with a perfect earned-run average this season. He had a 5.51 ERA across 47.1 innings with the rookie-level Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League in 2017.
Domingo Jimenez of the Cleveland organization was also suspended 80 games by the commissioner's office for testing positive for Stanozolol. Jimenez, a right-handed pitcher, was with Lake County of the Midwest League.
There have been 36 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program and six under the big league program.
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The Associated Press