The Toronto Blue Jays came into the 2024 season with high expectations due to a stacked lineup and an accomplished pitching staff, but many of the team’s high-profile players have disappointed thus far, and the team has slipped to 35-41.
The Jays find themselves in last place in the AL East.
A new report announcing a suspension for one of the team’s top prospects will only add to the disappointment Jays fans have had to endure so far.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the team’s top hitting prospect, Orelvis Martinez, was suspended for 80 games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy and will now be away from the team for an extended period after just making his MLB debut on Friday.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez has been suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Martinez, 22, is Toronto’s top hitting prospect and made his big league debut Friday.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 23, 2024
Passan reported that Martinez tested positive for clomiphene, a fertility drug that Martinez was prescribed this winter.
Martinez said, “We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs. Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA. With that said, I took full responsibility for my negligence and accepted my suspension.”
It’s a tough blow for the Blue Jays, as the team needed a shot in the arm following Bo Bichette hitting the IL and with so many members of the lineup underperforming this season.
Martinez went 1-for-3 in his debut on Friday and will now have to wait until the end of the season to get another crack at the big leagues.
