List of Major League Baseball players suspended for performance-enhancing drugs

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In January 2004, Major League Baseball announced a new drug policy which included random, offseason testing and 10-day suspensions for first-time offenders, 30-days for second-time offenders, 60-days for third-time offenders, and one year for fourth-time offenders, all without pay, in an effort to curtail performance-enhancing drug use in professional baseball. This policy strengthened baseball's pre-existing ban on controlled substances, including steroids, which was in effect since 1991.^[1] The policy was to be reviewed in 2008, but under pressure from the U.S. Congress, on November 15, 2005, players and owners agreed to tougher penalties; a 50-game suspension for a first offense, a 100-game suspension for a second, and a lifetime ban for a third.

Of the 66 players suspended, 29 were from the United States, 19 from the Dominican Republic, 11 from Venezuela, three from Cuba, two each from Puerto Rico, and Mexico, and one each from Australia, Colombia, Japan, and Spain. In December of 2009, Sports Illustrated named Baseball's steroid scandal of performance-enhancing drugs as the number one sports story of the decade of the 2000's.^[2] By organizations, the Arizona Diamondbacks have had two players test positive; one from the Atlanta Braves organization; two from the Baltimore Orioles organization; one from the Chicago White Sox organization; three from the Cincinnati Reds organization; three from the Cleveland Indians organization; six from the Colorado Rockies organization; two from the Detroit Tigers organization; four from the Florida Marlins organization; one from the Houston Astros organization; three from the Kansas City Royals organization; two from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; one from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization; one from the Milwaukee Brewers organization; one from the Minnesota Twins organization; five from the New York Mets organization; three from the New York Yankees organization; one from the Oakland Athletics organization; three from the Philadelphia Phillies organization; four from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization; two from the San Diego Padres organization; five from the San Francisco Giants organization; six from the Seattle Mariners organization; one from the Tampa Bay Rays organization; five from the Texas Rangers organization; two from the Toronto Blue Jays organization; and three from the Washington Nationals organization.

Contents 1 Suspended players 1.1 Key 1.2 Players who were on major league rosters 1.3 Players who had major league experience on minor league rosters 1.4 Players with major league experience in a non-affiliated professional league 2 Footnotes 2.1 Major league players' response 3 References 4 External links

Suspended players

Key

*	Major League Baseball All-Star
MVP	Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player
SS	Silver Slugger award winner
GG	Gold Glove award winner
P	Pitcher
C	Catcher
1B	First baseman
2B	Second baseman
3B	Third baseman
SS	Shortstop
OF	Outfielder
DH	Designated hitter
UT	Utility player
†	Player was named in the Mitchell Report (may or may not be related to suspension)
(#)	Number of times the player was suspended (starts after second positive test)
Bold Italic	Currently active

Players who were on major league rosters

Player	Team	Date announced	Penalty	Position	Response	Ref.
Alex Sánchez	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	April 3, 2005	10 days	OF	[a]	[3]
Jorge Piedra	Colorado Rockies	April 11, 2005	10 days	OF	[b]	[4]
Agustín Montero	Texas Rangers	April 20, 2005	10 days	P	[c]	[5]
Jamal Strong	Seattle Mariners	April 26, 2005	10 days	OF	[d]	[6]
Juan Rincón	Minnesota Twins	May 2, 2005	10 days	P	[e]	[6]
Rafael Betancourt	Cleveland Indians	July 8, 2005	10 days	P	[f]	[7]
Rafael Palmeiro SS, GG	Baltimore Orioles	August 1, 2005	10 days	DH	[g]	[8]
Ryan Franklin †	Seattle Mariners	August 2, 2005	10 days	P	[h]	[9]
Mike Morse	Seattle Mariners	September 7, 2005	10 days	SS	[i]	[10]
Carlos Almanzar	Texas Rangers	October 4, 2005	10 days	P	[j]	[11]
Félix Heredia	New York Mets	October 18, 2005	10 days	P	[k]	[12]
Matt Lawton	New York Yankees	November 2, 2005	10 days	OF	[l]	[13]
Yusaku Iriki	New York Mets	April 28, 2006	50 games	P	[m]	[14]
Jason Grimsley †	Arizona Diamondbacks	June 12, 2006	50 games	P	[n]	[15]
Guillermo Mota	New York Mets	November 1, 2006	50 games	P	[o]	[16]
Juan Salas	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	May 7, 2007	50 games	P	[p]	[17]
Neifi Pérez GG	Detroit Tigers	July 6, 2007	25 games	UT	[q]	[18]
Neifi Pérez (2)	Detroit Tigers	August 3, 2007	80 games	UT	[q]	[19]
Mike Cameron GG	San Diego Padres	October 31, 2007	25 games	OF	[r]	[20]
Dan Serafini	Colorado Rockies	November 27, 2007	50 games	P	[s]	[21]
José Guillén †	Kansas City Royals	December 6, 2007	15 games	OF	[t]	[22]
Jay Gibbons †	Baltimore Orioles	December 6, 2007	15 games	OF	[u]	[23]
Eliézer Alfonzo	San Francisco Giants	April 30, 2008	50 games	C	[v]	[24]
J. C. Romero	Philadelphia Phillies	January 6, 2009	50 games	P	[w]	[25]
Manny Ramirez MVP, SS	Los Angeles Dodgers	May 7, 2009	50 games	OF	[x]	[26]
Edinson Volquez	Cincinnati Reds	April 20, 2010	50 games	P	[y]	[27]
Manny Ramirez	Tampa Bay Rays	April 8, 2011	100 games	OF	[z]	[28]

Players who had major league experience on minor league rosters

Player	Organization	Date announced	Penalty	Position	Ref.
Troy Cate	Seattle Mariners	April 4, 2005	15 games	P	[29]
Willie Collazo	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	April 4, 2005	15 games	P	[29]
Francisco Córdova	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	April 4, 2005	15 games	P	[29]
Jesus Guzman	Seattle Mariners	April 4, 2005	15 games	P	[29]
Clay Hensley	San Diego Padres	April 4, 2005	15 games	P	[29]
Robert Machado	Texas Rangers	April 4, 2005	15 games	C	[29]
Damian Moss	Seattle Mariners	April 4, 2005	15 games	P	[30]
Brian Mallette (2)	Pittsburgh Pirates	April 6, 2005	30 games	P	[31]
Jon Nunnally	Pittsburgh Pirates	April 6, 2005	15 games	OF	[31]
Tom Evans	Pittsburgh Pirates	April 6, 2005	15 games	3B	[31]
Julius Matos	Toronto Blue Jays	April 6, 2005	15 games	UT	[32]
Ricardo Rodríguez	Atlanta Braves	April 22, 2005	15 games	P	[33]
Grant Roberts	New York Mets	April 22, 2005	15 games	P	[34]
Eider Torres	Cleveland Indians	April 22, 2005	15 games	2B	[33]
Randy Ruiz	Philadelphia Phillies	May 3, 2005	15 games	1B	[35]
Darnell McDonald	Cleveland Indians	May 6, 2005	15 games	OF	[33]
Guillermo Rodríguez	San Francisco Giants	May 12, 2005	15 games	C	[33]
Jonathan Herrera	Colorado Rockies	May 12, 2005	15 games	UT	[33]
Steve Smyth	Oakland Athletics	May 12, 2005	15 games	OF	[33]
Jorge Toca	Chicago White Sox	May 12, 2005	15 games	1B	[33]
Christian Parker	Colorado Rockies	May 12, 2005	15 games	P	[33]
Luis Ugueto	Kansas City Royals	May 13, 2005	15 games	UT	[33]
Wilson Delgado	Florida Marlins	May 13, 2005	15 games	SS	[33]
Ramón A. Castro (2)	Washington Nationals	July 1, 2005	105 games	UT	[33]
Josh Labandeira	Washington Nationals	July 1, 2005	15 games	SS	[33]
Matt Whiteside	Toronto Blue Jays	July 15, 2005	15 games	P	[33]
Randy Ruiz (2)	Philadelphia Phillies	July 22, 2005	30 games	1B	[36]
Wilson Delgado (2)	Florida Marlins	August 12, 2005	30 games	SS	[33]
Luis Ugueto (2)	Kansas City Royals	August 16, 2005	30 games	UT	[33]
Ramón A. Ramírez	Cincinnati Reds	April 11, 2006	50 games	P	[33]
Nerio Rodríguez	Pittsburgh Pirates	May 19, 2006	50 games	P	[33]
Abraham Núñez	San Francisco Giants	May 24, 2006	50 games	OF	[33]
Yamid Haad	San Francisco Giants	May 31, 2006	50 games	C	[33]
Daniel McCutchen	New York Yankees	August 8, 2006	50 games	P	[37]
Francisco Cruceta	Texas Rangers	May 9, 2007	50 games	P	[38]
Lino Urdaneta	New York Mets	May 16, 2007	50 games	P	[39]
Ángel Salomé	Milwaukee Brewers	July 24, 2007	50 games	C	[40]
Ryan Jorgensen	Cincinnati Reds	September 7, 2007	50 games	C	[41]
Luther Hackman	Texas Rangers	October 30, 2007	50 games	P	[42]
Jordan Schafer	Atlanta Braves	April 8, 2008	50 games	OF	[43]
Humberto Cota	Colorado Rockies	May 28, 2008	50 games	C	[44]
Jorge Sosa	Seattle Mariners	August 21, 2008	50 games	P	[45]
Runelvys Hernández	Houston Astros	September 6, 2008	50 games	P	[46]
Henry Owens	Florida Marlins	November 11, 2008	50 games	P	[47]
Sergio Mitre	New York Yankees	January 6, 2009	50 games	P	[48]
Pablo Ozuna	Philadelphia Phillies	June 11, 2009	50 games	UT	[49]
Prentice Redman	Los Angeles Dodgers	June 25, 2010	50 games	OF	[50]
Pedro López	Washington Nationals	July 27, 2010	50 games	SS	[51]
Prentice Redman (2)	Los Angeles Dodgers	July 27, 2010	100 games	OF	[51]
Omar Quintanilla	Colorado Rockies	August 11, 2010	50 games	UT	[52]
Matt Kinney	San Francisco Giants	August 24, 2010	50 games	P	[53]
Kevin Frandsen	Philadelphia Phillies	May 11, 2011	50 games	3B	[54]

Players with major league experience in a non-affiliated professional league

Player	Team (League)	Date announced	Penalty	Position	Ref.
Luis González	Yomiuri Giants (NPB)	May 26, 2008	One year	UT	[55]
Danny Rios	Yakult Swallows (NPB)	June 28, 2008	One year	P	[56]

Footnotes

Major league players' response

• ^a Alex Sánchez said this about his suspension: "I take some kind of stuff I buy over the counter. Multi-vitamin, protein shakes, muscle relaxers, that kind of stuff. Over-the-counter stuff. Stuff to give me energy. I'm surprised because look at what kind of player I am. I never hit any home runs. I don't know. It surprised me."^[57]

• ^b Jorge Piedra said this about his suspension: "I am a little bit embarrassed that I put myself, my family and the Rockies in this situation, but it is what it is. I had taken some pills that I wouldn't have taken if I thought I would fail a test. People are going to think what they want. No need for me to go crazy about what everybody else thinks at this point."^[58]

• ^c Agustín Montero and the Major League Baseball Players' Association filed a grievance after his suspension, saying the penalty was "discipline without just cause."^[59]

• ^d Though Jamal Strong didn't comment, the Seattle Mariners issued a statement on the matter of drug use in their organization stating, "We are extremely disappointed with our players who have been suspended. While we support those players, we also support the efforts of Major League Baseball to rid baseball of performing enhancing drugs."^[60]

• ^e Juan Rincón said this about his suspension: "Baseball is my life and I was devastated after becoming aware that I tested positive for a violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The details are confidential and I have asked the player's association to challenge the suspension...What I can share with you today is that I would never knowingly compromise my position within Major League Baseball or jeopardize my relationship with the Minnesota Twins organization or the relationships that I enjoy with my teammates."^[61]

• ^f Rafael Betancourt said this about his suspension: "I am very angry and disappointed with Major League Baseball's decision to suspend me. I am going to file a grievance to clear my name. I am very sorry if this has caused any embarrassment and I apologize to my family, the Cleveland Indians organization, my teammates and all the fans...I look forward to resolving this matter and returning to the Indians as soon as possible."^[62]

• ^g Rafael Palmeiro said this about his suspension: "I told the truth, and today I am telling the truth again that I did not do this intentionally or knowingly. I hope the fans understand that I worked very hard over a long 20-year career. I put in a lot of time and a lot of effort in my career. I made a mistake and I am facing it. I hope people learn from my mistake and I hope the fans forgive me...I went in front of Congress and I was honest with Congress. There's no absolute reason for me to do anything at this stage of my career. There's nothing for me to gain and everything for me to lose. I knew I was approaching 3,000 hits. I was not about to put everything on the line, my reputation and everything that I've worked for so hard in my life to do anything like this. It just makes no sense."^[63]

• ^h Ryan Franklin said this about his suspension: "There has to be a flaw in the system. I have no clue. I tested in [early] May and again three weeks later. The first was positive, the second was negative. There is a flaw in the testing or my urine got mixed up with somebody else's. They said that couldn't happen but I don't believe it...I just know deep in my heart that I'd never do anything like that...I was like, 'Are you kidding me?' I had just woken up from a nap and thought, 'There's no way this is happening to me.' I thought it was a joke."^[64]

• ⁱ Mike Morse said this about his suspension: "First and foremost, I want to apologize to the fans, my teammates, the Mariners' organization, baseball and to my family. Back in November 2003 when I was 21 years old, I made an enormous mistake in my life: I took steroids while in the Minor Leagues. My thigh muscle, which I had previously torn, had never healed and I was scared that my career was over. I was desperate and made a terrible mistake which I deeply regret."^[65]

• ^j Though Carlos Almanzar didn't comment, the Texas Rangers' owner Tom Hicks stated, "It's disappointing, it really is. Our players know the rules. They know they are going to be tested. If any of them get caught, shame on them. I am disappointed."^[66]

• ^k Though Félix Heredia didn't directly comment, his agent, Martin Arburua, told the New York Times, "We're trying to figure out exactly what it is. Whatever it was, though, he did not knowingly take it. He wasn't playing and had no reason to. He was trying to rehab and get back."^[67]

• ^l Matt Lawton said this about his suspension: "I made a terrible and foolish mistake that I will regret for the rest of my life. I take full responsibility for my actions and did not appeal my suspension. I apologize to the fans, the game, my family and all those people that I let down. I am truly sorry and deeply regret my terrible lapse in judgment."^[68]

• ^m Though Yusaku Iriki didn't comment, the New York Mets released a statement saying, "The Mets are obviously disappointed that a member of our organization has tested positive."^[69]

• ⁿ Jason Grimsley didn't publicly comment, however, he did name Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts and Jay Gibbons as players who used performance-enhancing drugs in an affidavit to the U.S. Attorney's office.^[70]

• ^o Guillermo Mota said this about his suspension: "I used extremely poor judgment and deserve to be held accountable. To my teammates and the entire Mets organization, I am sorry. I truly regret what I did and hope that you can forgive me...To baseball fans everywhere, I understand that you are disappointed in me, and I feel terrible and I promise this is the first and last time that this will happen."^[71]

• ^p Though Juan Salas didn't comment, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays said this: "The Tampa Bay Devil Rays fully support Major League Baseball's drug testing policy. We will do all we can to help Juan get his career headed back on a positive course."^[72]

• ^q After his 25-game suspension, Neifi Pérez said this: "I say to my fans that I am not stupid. I know the difference between good and bad and there are things that are going to be known going forward, but my lawyer has advised me not to talk for now."^[73] After his 80-game suspension, Pérez stated: "It's not fair. They called three different positives on a 20-day-period. I was using a medicine that was supposedly authorized by the doctors due to a personal condition."^[74]

• ^r Mike Cameron said this about his suspension: "The one thing I wanted to make sure was explained is, no steroids. I never took nothing like that before in my life. That would be 50 games, and that would affect me a whole lot more...After all of the analysis and testing, I can only conclude that a nutritional supplement I was taking was tainted."^[75]

• ^s Dan Serafini said this about his suspension: "I want to make it known that I did not use any banned substances in order to gain a competitive advantage. However, while playing baseball in Japan, I suffered two significant injuries...While trying to accelerate the healing process of these injuries, I took substances that were prescribed for me by a doctor in Japan."^[76]

• ^t Though José Guillén didn't comment, the Kansas City Royals' general manager Dayton Moore stated, "We signed Jose knowing that was a possibility. While my initial reaction is one of disappointment, I am thoroughly convinced that Jose will put this behind him and we collectively support him as he begins a new chapter in his baseball life as a member of the Kansas City Royals."^[77]

• ^u Jay Gibbons said this about his suspension: "I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bare sole responsibility for my decisions. Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the HGH, which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries."^[78]

• ^v Eliézer Alfonzo said this about his suspension: "I made a mistake, and I want to apologize to my family, my teammates, the fans and the Giants organization. I know what I did was wrong, and now I will pay the penalty. As a father, I now have to look my children in the eye and explain to them that I have made a big mistake, one, unfortunately, that they are also going to have to deal with, as well as me."^[24]

• ^w J. C. Romero said this about his suspension: "I still cannot see where I did something wrong. There is nothing that should take away from the rings of my teammates. I didn't cheat. I tried to follow the rules."^[79]

• ^x Manny Ramirez said this about his suspension: "[A doctor] gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy, that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now."^[80]

• ^y Edinson Volquez said this about his suspension: "Prior to the conclusion of last season, my wife and I sought medical advice in Cincinnati with the hope of starting a family. As part of my consultation with the physician, I received certain prescribed medications to treat my condition. As a follow up to our original consultation, my wife and I visited another physician in our home city in the Dominican Republic this past off-season. This physician also gave me certain prescribed medications as part of my treatment. Unfortunately, I now know that the medication the physician in the Dominican gave me is one that is often used to treat my condition, but is also a banned substance under Major League Baseball's drug policy. As a result, I tested positive when I reported to spring training. Although I understand that I must accept responsibility for this mistake and have chosen not to challenge my suspension, I want to assure everyone that this was an isolated incident involving my genuine effort to treat a common medical issue and start a family. I was not trying in any way to gain an advantage in my baseball career. I am embarrassed by this whole situation and apologize to my family, friends, fans, teammates, and the entire Reds Organization for being a distraction and for causing them any difficulty. I simply want to accept the consequences, learn from the mistake, and continue to strive to be the best person and baseball player I can be."^[81]

• ^z Manny Ramirez chose to retire instead of submitting to the 100-game suspension.^[28]

References

External links

• 38 Minor Leaguers Suspended For Steroids. April 4, 2005
• Eleven Minor Leaguers Suspended For Steroids. May 12, 2005
• Ex-Mets employee Kirk Radomski pleads guilty to distributing steroids and other charges. April 27, 2007
• Bud Selig comments on the suspension of players found to have broken U.S. laws in regards to the steroid scandal. October 25, 2007