Blue Jays prospect tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs

According to John Lott of The Athletic, Toronto Blue Jays minor league pitcher Luis Quinones has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended without pay for 80 games.

The 22-year old reportedly tested positive for Nandrolone and will begin his suspension at the start of the 2020 campaign. Luis Quinones was selected by the Blue Jays in the 34th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of San Jacinto College in Houston.

The young hurler signed for $50,000 and was assigned to Bluefield in the Appalachian League where he impressed earning a promotion to Vancouver before season’s end. Quinones made two appearances for Bluefield striking out ten in 6.1 innings of work.

At the beginning of July, the right-hander was moved to the Northwest League where he made ten appearances for the Canadians.  In Vancouver, Quinones accumulated a 2.97 earned run average while fanning 47 in 30.1 innings on the bump.

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Quinones ended the campaign with a 2-2 record and a 2.95 earned run average while striking out 14.0 batters per nine innings. Pretty impressive numbers out of the gate for a kid selected in the 34th round.

According to Practo.com, Nandrolone is described as an anabolic steroid that promotes tissue building:

"Nandrolone belongs to a group of medicine known as anabolic steroids. This medicine promotes tissue building processes and production of proteins. It is used for the management of anemia and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women."

This is the same performance-enhancing drug that Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte tested positive for in 2017. At the time of his suspension, Marte blamed neglect and a lack of knowledge for his positive test.

The MILB announced that Quinones and three other players were suspended for performance-enhancing drugs-Padres right-hander Elias Batista, Mets catcher Jan Carlos Osorio and Braves catcher Jose Camacaro.

Hopefully, the Puerto Rico native can overcome this bump in the road and continue overpowering hitters once he returns back to action.