The Los Angeles Dodgers had a second Minor League pitcher suspended this season for a positive PED test, when Triple-A Oklahoma City right-hander Jair Jurrjens received an 80-game ban. He tested positive for exogenous testosterone.
Oklahoma City had 77 games remaining on their schedule at the time of the announcement. Thus, should Jurrjens elect to pitch next season and latch on with a Major League club or Minor League affiliate, he’ll be required to miss three games to complete the suspension.
Jurrjens issued a statement on Instagram to apologize and explain what led to his frustration:
In April I was notified that I tested positive during a routine drug test. I immediately as asked to be granted an appeal as I would never intentionally cheat on the game that I respect so much. The appeal was denied after learning the banned substance found in my sample was a result of prescribed supplements given to me by my doctor, to treat my depression and personal health issues over the winter. I was not actively taking the substance but it had remained in my body and was not NSF approved. I would like to take this moment to apologize to my team, the fans of the game, and my family. I have played baseball professionally for over ten years, and I hope to move past this quickly and humbly continue with the sport I love. – Jair Jurrjens.
Jurrjens went 4-3 with a 4.64 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 11 games (10 starts) for OKC this season. The 31-year-old last pitched for Oklahoma City on June 7, allowing four runs in two innings. Jurrjens finished wth 44 strikeouts and 18 walks in 54 innings.
His 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings was Jurrjens’ second-best mark during his Minor League career. He signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers during the final week of March.
Prior to signing with the Dodgers, Jurrjens went 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA in three games (two starts) for Netherlands in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Jurrjens last pitched in the Majors with the Colorado Rockies in 2014. It was a brief stint, however, as he was 0-1 and allowed 11 runs on 20 hits, including four home runs, in just 9.1 innings across two starts.
Jurrjens is a lifetime 53-38 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over parts of eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Rockies. The bulk of his experience came with the Braves (2008-12). Jurrjens was an All-Star in 2011 and finished the season 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA.
