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Braves Andrew McKirahan suspended 80 games

By Alexandra Huber

Apr 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Andrew McKirahan (52) throws a pitch during the seventh inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Atlanta Braves won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Andrew McKirahan (52) throws a pitch during the seventh inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Atlanta Braves won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Braves left handed relief pitcher Andrew McKirahan suspended 80 games for PED use. 

You would think that baseball players would learn their lesson eventually.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Andrew McKirahan has been issued an 80-game suspension after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, according to FOX Sports.

Major League Baseball confirmed the suspension on Monday, adding that the substance McKirahan tested positive for was Ipamorelin, a drug on the league’s list of banned substances that produced growth hormone in the body.

According to MLB.com, McKirahan tested positive back in March, prior to the Braves claiming him off waivers from the Marlins, but the results of the test were not revealed until Sunday. Once the results were released, McKirahan admitted his mistake and apologized to teammates.

The Braves had terrible luck in this whole deal. Obviously, had the results come out sooner, they would never have touched McKirahan. Though the lefty is only a reliever, no team wants an 80-game suspension associated with their club.

The problem is exacerbated when you take into account the Braves’ already struggling bullpen. The club traded All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to San Diego earlier this month.

Braves president, John Hart, commented on suspension and what it means for the bullpen:

"“From a club perspective we’re obviously disappointed in this one,” said Hart. “From a depth standpoint, we lost Shae Simmons to Tommy John, and Vizcaino was suspended. And Feigl, it looks like potentially he may need Tommy John. This [McKirahan suspension] is sort of a double whammy in that we lost a guy we were looking at in the bullpen and we’ve lost some other weapons.”"

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Twenty-five year-old McKirahan, who was in the Cubs’ system, was the Marlins’ selection in the 2014 Rule 5 draft. The Marlins placed him on waivers late in Spring Training, where he was picked up by the Braves.

McKirahan becomes the fifth MLB player to receive an 80-game suspension thus far in 2015 – along with teammate Arodys Vizcaino, Twins’ Ervin Santana, Mets’ Jenrry Mejia, and Yankees’ Wilking Rodriguez.

If you’re a Braves fan, you’re understandably frustrated, but even as a general fan of the game you have to be shaking your head. The fact that these suspensions are still happening on a regular basis is mind-boggling. MLB players, your money is guaranteed, you have the greatest lives ever. Don’t make this mistake.

If one more player says that they “have no idea how the substance got in their system,” we might scream. At least Ryan Braun had an original excuse, even if he had to throw an innocent UPS employee under the bus to do it.

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