Montero gets suspension

Around the horn

Texas Rangers minor league pitcher Agustin Montero was Wednesday suspended for 10 days, becoming the third player to test positive under major league baseball’s new policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Agustin, who has never appeared in a major league game, failed the drug test while he was on the Rangers’ 40-man roster during spring training. He was designated for assignment on April 2, when opening-day rosters were set, then sent outright to Frisco of the Double-A Texas League. He is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in eight innings over five relief appearances.

Caminiti ceremony set

The San Diego Padres will remember Ken Caminiti on what would have been his 42nd birthday, with his three daughters and ex-wife taking part in a pre-game tribute tonight.

•Pete Rose Jr. has returned to baseball, joining the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.

•Major league umpire Paul Schrieber is under investigation for an alleged assault on a flight attendant during a trip to Denver last weekend, two sources told the Associated Press.

•Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson has encountered difficulty getting a work permit to get into Canada, which means Baltimore might not have him for his scheduled start Sunday in Toronto.

•The New York Yankees will be hit with a record luxury tax this year. Initial projections by the commissioner’s office based on opening-day rosters have the Yankees owing $30,637,531, according to information obtained this week by the AP.

The only other team projected to owe a tax is the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, who would pay $969,177.

•Barry Bonds has been unable to begin baseball-related activities since the second arthroscopic operation on his right knee and no timetable has been set for his return.

•A man was critically injured when he fell from the top level of RFK Stadium after the Atlanta Braves-Washington Nationals game.

The 35-year-old man fell from a ramp on the 500 level of the stadium, hit several ramps and railings on the way down and landed on the concourse of the 100 level.

Associated Press