MLB Suspends New York Mets Pitcher Jenrry Mejia, San Francisco Giants Minor Leaguer Chucki Jones

Baseball is in full swing now and with that have come some suspensions. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced that New York Mets right-handed pitcher Jenrry Mejia has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension of Mejia is effective immediately.

The often-injured Mejia, 25, was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with what was described as inflammation in his right elbow. That condition had been expected to keep him sidelined for several weeks; now, Mejia will be suspended for 80 games and cannot return until July.

“I know the rules are the rules, and I will accept my punishment, but I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system,” Mejia said in a statement issued through the players’ union. In the Mets clubhouse there was a general reaction of disappointment.

“Not only do you cost yourself 80 games and don’t get paid, but you’re hurting everybody in here,” David Wright said. “You’re letting down your teammates.”

He added: “We’ve all discussed the drug policy at length. The players’ association, the commissioner’s office, everybody in baseball has done their best to try to clean up this game as much as possible. As much as it hurts, as much as we love Jenrry as a teammate, when you make a mistake, you’re going to be punished.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball also said that San Francisco Giants Minor League outfielder Chuckie Jones has received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension of Jones, who is currently on the roster of the Single-A San Jose Giants of the California League, is effective immediately. Baseball defines drugs of abuse to include cocaine, LSD, opiates and ecstasy, as opposed to performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids, which are covered by different rules.

Jones plays for the Class A San Jose Giants of the California League. Over five seasons in the minors, Jones has a .238 average to go along with a .323 on-base percentage and 39 home runs.

He hit .256 with a career-high 15 home runs playing in high-A ball in 2014.

MLB Suspends New York Mets Pitcher Jenrry Mejia, San Francisco Giants Minor Leaguer Chucki Jones