Two Minor League players suspended
Two Minor League pitchers -- Mitchell Taylor and Matthew Rusch -- were sanctioned for 50 games Friday for a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com.
Taylor, a former seventh-round draftee of the Toronto organization, will serve his suspension at the start of the season for Bluefield in the rookie-level Appalachian League. Rusch, a Minor League free agent, will serve his suspension immediately upon signing with a big league organization.
Both Taylor, just 19 years old, and Rusch, 28, tested positive for a drug of abuse for the second time. Taylor, a left-hander, went 4-2 with a 4.23 ERA for Bluefield last season in his professional debut. Rusch pitched in an independent league and worked in four games for Double-A Portland last year.