Two Minor League players suspended

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that two Minor League players have been suspended following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Atlanta Braves Minor League right-handed pitcher Victor Joaquin has received a 72-game suspension without pay after testing positive for a metabolite of Nandrolone. 

Braves Minor League right-handed pitcher Alvaro Silvestre has received a 72-game suspension without pay after testing positive for a metabolite of Boldenone.

Joaquin and Silvestre are both currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Braves. The suspensions of both players, which represent the first suspensions for performance-enhancing substances under the new Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, are effective immediately. 

Under the rules of the new program for a short-season league, a first violation receives a discipline of 80 games or the total number of championship season games in the league, whichever is shorter. The Dominican Summer League plays a 72-game championship season schedule, thus the suspensions of Joaquin and Silvestre are for 72 games each.