Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Daniel Stumpf was suspended 80 games Thursday for his first violation of Major League Baseball’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs.
The Phillies released a statement following the suspension and made a corresponding roster move:
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Stumpf tested positive for the anabolic steroid dehydrochlormethyltestosterone.
The 25-year-old lefty was a Rule 5 draft pick of the Phils from the Kansas City Royals, which means he must remain on Philadelphia’s 25-man roster for the entire season or else the Royals will have the opportunity to reclaim his rights.
Stumpf has allowed three earned runs over 0.2 innings in three appearances so far this season for an ERA of 40.50.
The Humble, Texas, native is a former ninth-round pick of the Royals, and he was among the Phillies’ only left-handed options in the bullpen.
While the Phillies are off to a surprisingly decent start at 4-5, they are expected to be among the league’s worst teams in 2016, which somewhat softens the blow of losing a player of Stumpf’s ilk.
Even if Philadelphia manages to exceed expectations and remain in the race, though, Stumpf isn’t a significant piece of the puzzle to lose for 80 games.
He is extremely inexperienced at the major league level, and while he has just three appearances to his credit, he has been battered by opposing hitters thus far.
Most importantly, Stumpf’s suspension could put his spot on the Phillies’ roster in jeopardy, as there is no guarantee the Phils will have a place for him when he returns to action in a few months.
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