Rincon suspended 10 days

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota pitcher Juan Rincon, who emerged last season as one of baseball’s top setup men, became the highest-profile violator of Major League Baseball’s new policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Rincon was suspended Monday for 10 days after testing positive for an undisclosed substance, the fifth player major league to be suspended this season.

Michael Weiner, general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said a grievance would be filed today. But unlike other penalties, such as for fighting, suspensions under this policy take effect immediately and are not delayed pending a hearing.

“Suffice it to say, he was devastated and stunned by the result,” Rincon’s agent, Ed Setlik, said after speaking with Rincon, who is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 appearances this season.

The 26-year-old Venezuelan didn’t immediately return a message left on his cell phone. Minnesota was off Monday, but the team said he would make a brief statement to the media tonight.

“He feels like he’s let the team down,” manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Rincon, making $440,000 this season under terms of a two-year contract he signed during spring training, will forfeit $24,044 in salary. The penalty also will hurts his chances to earn bonuses.