Blue Jays Prospect Alan Farina Suspended 50 Games

Blue Jays prospect Alan Farina has been suspended 50 games for a second violation of the minor-league drug program. Mandatory Credit – Flickr – mwlguideAnother Toronto Blue Jays minor-league pitcher has been suspended for violating minor league baseball’s drug program. This is Farina’s second violation of the program, both times for a drug of abuse.

The 26-year-old was a 2007 draft pick out of Clemson University. He spent 2010 and 2011 with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Toronto’s Double-A affiliate. Farina missed the first half of the 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, returning and pitching at Single-A Dunedin to close out the season.

During his minor league career, he is 10-10 with a 3.50 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 ratio.All but 5 of his 138 appearances have come in relief.

The Farina suspension is similar in nature to the situation with Jeremy Jeffress, who was acquired by Toronto this winter from the Kansas City Royals. Jeffress, while in the Royals and Brewers organizations, has violated baseball’s program involving drugs of abuse three times, being warned the first time and suspended after the two subsequent positives. A fourth positive test will result in a lifetime ban.

This is the second suspension within the Toronto organization in the last year. Marcus Stroman, the 22nd overall pick of the 2012 draft, was suspended on August 28th for 50 games after testing positive for the performance-enhancing methylhexaneamine. The positive test came while Stroman while playing for Class A Vancouver, just prior to his promotion to Double-A New Hampshire.

When reached for comment, all general manager Alex Anthopoulos could add was that Farina was “embarrassed” by the suspension and would work to overcome it.