NEW YORK — Baltimore third baseman Jaime Estrada and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Andrew Vinson have been suspended without pay for the first 50 games of the season under baseball’s minor league drug program.
Estrada was suspended for a positive test for Strychnine, the commissioner’s office said Friday. The 22-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Orioles’ Gulf Coast League team and hit .240 with one homer and three RBIs in 50 at-bats over 23 games last year.
Vinson was suspended for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The 24-year-old right-hander, a 10th-round draft pick from Texas A&M two years ago, was 9-11 with a 4.58 ERA in 25 starts last season for Burlington of the Class A Midwest League.
There have been 21 players suspended this year under the minor league program and three under the major league program: Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read and Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley.
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