Orelvis Martinez of the Blue Jays is suspended for performance-enhancing drugs just days after his MLB debut

February 20, 2024; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Orelvis Martinez throws during a spring training drill at the Blue Jays Player Development Complex. Mandatory Photo Credit: Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Orelvis Martinez made his Major League Baseball debut on Friday, but is now suspended for most of the remainder of the 2024 season.

MLB announced Sunday that Martinez has been suspended for 80 games for violating the league’s doping policy. The 22-year-old tested positive for clomiphene, a fertility drug that is on MLB’s banned substances list.

Martinez said in a statement that he was prescribed fertility drugs at a clinic in his home country of the Dominican Republic because he and his girlfriend had been trying to have a child for two years.

“We also wanted to keep this matter private within our family and trusted the doctor who assured us that this treatment did not involve any performance-enhancing drugs,” Martinez said, via Jeff Passan of ESPN. “So I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA.”

“In this context, I take full responsibility for my negligence and accept my suspension.”

Ross Atkins, executive vice president and general manager of the Blue Jays, said the team was “both surprised and disappointed” by Martinez’s suspension, but Martinez “has our support.”

Martinez, who signed with the Blue Jays as an international free agent in July 2018, was called up to the major leagues last week and made his debut on Friday against the Cleveland Indians, hitting 1-of-3 home runs. Martinez had shown tremendous power in Triple-A before his call-up, hitting 16 home runs in just 63 games.

Because of the 80-game suspension, Martinez cannot play again until September. The Blue Jays entered Sunday with a 35-41 record and were in last place in the AL East, so it’s unlikely they will play in October.