Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League pitcher Ivan Vieitez was suspended 50 games for testing positive for Ritalinic Acid, a stimulant. MLB also announced suspensions for Minor League pitchers in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Greg Belton; 50 games) and Cincinnati Reds (Brian Hunter; 80) organizations.
Vieitez was selected by the Dodgers 27th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. The right-hander made his professional debut that year with Rookie-Level Ogden, going 1-4 with a 6.10 ERA in 17 games (11 starts).
Vieitez was 4-4 with a 3.86 ERA while appearing in 28 games, exclusively as a reliever, with Low-A Great Lakes last season. He was aggressively promoted to Double-A Tulsa at the outset of this season.
The 24-year-old struggled with the Drillers, going 1-3 with a 4.97 ERA, and was demoted to High-A Rancho Cucamonga in June.
Over four games with the Quakes, Vieitez went 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA, while collecting seven strikeouts against two walks in 8.1 innings pitched. He’s a lifetime 7-11 with three saves, a 4.79 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 61 walks and 108 strikeouts in 154 innings across 60 games (19 starts) over parts of four Minor League seasons.
The suspension went into effect June 16, which makes Vieitez eligible to return Aug. 11. He’s the third pitcher this year from the Dodgers organization to test positive for a PED or stimulant and receive a suspension.
Jair Jurrjens was given an 80-game ban in June, removing him from Triple-A Oklahoma City roster, while Edward Perez of the Dominican Summer League Dodgers received a 72-game (entire season) suspension in April.
