TORONTO -- Blue Jays prospect Griffin Conine has been hit with a 50-game suspension for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Major League Baseball announced on Monday afternoon that Conine tested positive for ritalinic acid, which is a banned stimulant under the drug prevention program. Conine will not receive any pay for the duration of his suspension.
The Blue Jays selected Conine in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft. The son of former Major Leaguer Jeff Conine is ranked Toronto's No. 16 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and he has been considered one of the club's top power hitters in the Minor Leagues.
"Today it was announced that I tested positive for a banned stimulant in a test that was conducted during the 2018 season, and will be serving a 50-game suspension as a result," Conine wrote in a statement shared on social media. "I have spoken with the Toronto Blue Jays organization and my family, and I conveyed my utmost embarrassment for the careless decision that led to my suspension.
"I fully respect and support the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and I will not challenge the specific findings in my case. I will accept the consequences and do everything in my power to earn back the respect of the Blue Jays organization."
The 21-year-old outfielder appeared in 55 games for Class A Vancouver in 2018, and he slashed .238/.309/.427 with seven home runs, 14 doubles and two triples. Prior to that, Conine spent three years at Duke University, where he became the first Blue Devil since 2009 to hit 15 or more home runs.
"We are disappointed to learn of Griffin's suspension, but we fully support the Minor League Drug Prevention and Testing Program and believe it continues to help the game of baseball," Blue Jays director of player development Gil Kim wrote in a statement. "We've spoken to Griffin, and he understands the mistake he made. We are confident that he has learned from this experience. We will continue to support him in his development and work together to maximize his potential going forward."