Alcántara, 3 minor leaguers banned for positive drug tests
NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent pitcher Victor Alcántara was suspended for 80 games Friday under the major league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol.
The 26-year-old right-hander was 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA last season in 46 relief appearances for the Detroit Tigers. He became a free agent last fall after he was assigned outright to Triple-A Toledo on Oct. 24.
Alcántara made his major league debut in September 2017 and was 4-3 with a 4.28 ERA in 79 games over three seasons with the Tigers.
He is the fourth player suspended this year under the big league program after Houston pitcher Francis Martes, Pittsburgh outfielder/infielder Pablo Reyes and Colorado pitcher Justin Lawrence.
Three players were banned 50 games each under the minor league drug program following positive tests for banned stimulants: Cincinnati catcher Edward Guzman, Seattle pitcher Kyle Hill and New York Mets outfielder Ryan Shinn. Guzman and Hill tested positive for Amphetamine and Shinn tested positive for Ritalinic acid.
Guzman, 20, was a 32nd-round pick in the 2018 amateur draft and hit .173 (9 for 52) last year for the rookie-level Arizona League Reds.
Hill, a 22-year-old right-hander, was a 10th-round draft pick last year and was 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA in 14 relief appearances for West Virginia of the Class A South Atlantic League. He is on the roster of Modesto of the Class A California League.
Shinn, 23, was a 34th-round pick last year and batted .242 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 46 games for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Mets.
