Red Sox top prospect Chavis suspended 80 games
Boston Red Sox top infield prospect Michael Chavis has been suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, Major League Baseball announced Friday.
The suspension of Chavis, who is currently on the roster of the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, is effective immediately.
Chavis, 22, was Boston's first-round pick in the 2014 draft. The third baseman enjoyed a breakout season in the minors last year, hitting .282 with 31 home runs and 94 RBIs while playing the majority of his games at the Double-A level.
Chavis was sidelined this spring by an oblique injury.
"The Boston Red Sox fully support Major League Baseball and the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," the team said in a statement. "While we are disappointed by the news of this violation, we will look to provide the appropriate support to Michael. Going forward, the club will not comment further on the matter."
MLB.com ranks Chavis as the top prospect in the Red Sox system.
Three other minor leaguers were suspended by the league on Friday. Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Luis Diaz received a 72-game ban after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, and Cleveland Indians left-hander Alsis Herrera is suspended 80 games, also for a positive test for Stanozolol.
San Francisco Giants shortstop C.J. Hinojosa received a 50-game suspension following a second positive test for a drug of abuse.
--Field Level Media
