Orelvis Martínez of the Blue Jays is suspended for 80 games for drug abuse

NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Sunday after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug clomiphene. two days after his debut in the Major League.

Martínez, 22, has been on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster since November 2022. On Friday in Cleveland, he batted 1 of 3 with one strikeout.

“Orelvis was upset, disappointed and pretty honest for a young guy when he told us,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said before the team’s finale against the Guardians. “He’s obviously humbled and knows he made a mistake. We’re going to support him through the process.”

Martínez is cleared to return for the final six games of the regular season, but is ineligible to play in postseason games this year. He issued a statement apologizing to the Blue Jays and their fans.

“For two years I have been trying to start a family with my girlfriend. During the offseason we visited a fertility clinic in the Dominican Republic and after laboratory tests we were prescribed a treatment that included a drug called Rejun 50,” Martínez said in a statement from the players’ association.

“Unfortunately, Rejun 50 contains a banned substance called clomiphene. We also wanted to keep this matter private within our family and trusted the doctor who assured us that this treatment did not contain any performance enhancing drugs. Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA. With that in mind, I took full responsibility for my actions and accepted my suspension.”

Martínez signed with Toronto in July 2018 for a $3.51 million signing bonus and rose through the Blue Jays’ minor league ranks. This season, he posted a .260 batting average with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs and an .867 OPS in 63 games with Triple-A Buffalo.

“He didn’t know the substance was banned, but it was obviously a big mistake,” said Ross Atkins, general manager of the Blue Jays, in the visitors’ dugout at Progressive Field. “We are, of course, extremely disappointed and very surprised.”

Martínez will lose about half of his salary. His contract calls for $740,000 in the major leagues and $120,600 in the minor leagues, both minimums.

“I will learn from this experience and return to the field in September,” said Martínez.

He was the eighth player to be punished for performance-enhancing drugs this year, the second under the major league program. Noelvi Martéa 22-year-old infielder and the Cincinnati Reds’ most promising prospect, was suspended for the first 80 games of the season as part of the major league program after testing positive for boldenone.

Five players were suspended under the minor league program and one under MLB’s new doping program for minor league players who play outside the United States and Canada.

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