Coty Blanchard has officially been suspended for a 50-game stretch by the Tampa Bay Rays organization after he reportedly tested positive for an amphetamine.
The announcement came from the Commissioner’s Office on Tuesday.
The suspension, which is effective immediately, is without pay.
Blanchard had been hitting .314, with a home run and a total of 18 RBI’s, for Bowling Green in the Class A Midwest League. He was a 13th round draft pick out of JSU in 2013, and since that time, has posted an impressive list of accomplishments, starting with the Rookie-level Princeton team, and was a New York/Penn League All Star last summer, with Class A Short Season Hudson Valley where he batted .298 with two home runs and had 30 RBI’s over the course of 66 games.
Blanchard is the 52nd player, and second from Bowling Green, to be suspended this season for violating the Minor League drug program.
Spencer Edwards was banned for a total of 80 games back on February 13th – after testing positive for three banned drugs.
