Phillies pitcher gets 80-game PED suspension

Philadelphia Phillies minor-league prospect Elniery Garcia has been suspended for 80 games following a positive PED test.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Philadelphia Phillies minor league pitcher Elniery Garcia will begin serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for PED’s.

It is commonly said that the most important aspect for young, developing talent is consistent playing time against real competition. Garcia, out at least for the next two-and-a-half months, has taken this opportunity away from himself.

Pitching for the Phillies high-A minor-league affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers, Garcia put together a solid 2016 campaign. In 20 games (19 starts) last year, Garcia went 12-4 with a 2.68 earned run average (ERA). In his 117+ innings, Garcia gave up just 94 hits, struck out 91 batters while only walking 36.

This promising left-hander was set to begin the 2017 season pitching for the for the Reading Fightin Phils, the Phillies AA minor league affiliate. However, shoulder fatigue landed Garcia on the 7-day Disabled List to begin the season.

Boldedone, the PED that Garcia tested positive for is most commonly used to treat horses. This PED suspension came after a noticeable uptick in Garcia’s fastball. In a  post-season September start for Double A Reading, Garcia’s fastball was consistently sitting at 92-94 and reached 97 mph on occasion.

The Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff this year is led by Jeremy Hellickson, Jerad Eickhoff, and Clay Buchholz. The Phillies are off to a 3-6 start. The season began by losing two of three to the Cincinnati Reds, taking two games from the Washington Nationals, and being swept by the New York Mets.

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It is unlikely that the 22-year-old would have made an impact on the Phillies. However, the delay in development that comes with the suspension will push off any plans of Garcia making an impact on the big league club.