Baseball notes: Powell suspended after violation
Seattle Mariners minor league outfielder Boog Powell has been suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball’s drug agreement after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
The commissioner’s office made the announcement Thursday. It was Powell’s second penalty for a banned substance.
The 23-year-old Powell, not related to the former Baltimore slugger in the 1960s and 1970s, was on Seattle’s 40-man roster. He hasn’t played in the majors.
Powell was hitting .270 with 27 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 64 games at Triple-A Tacoma, playing center field.
He tested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid used to increase speed and strength. He was banned 50 games in 2014 after a positive test for an amphetamine.
In a statement, Powell says he accepts the penalty but does not know how the substance could have been in his system.
“I … will not rest until there is a full explanation for this result which will vindicate me. Until that happens, however, I realize that accountability rests solely with me on this matter,” Powell said.
There have been 12 players suspended this year under the big league drug program.
Reyes closer to possible return
Jose Reyes is now 48 hours away from a potential return to the Mets after the Rockies requested waivers to grant the shortstop his unconditional release.
The announcement is mostly procedural, as Reyes was designated for assignment last week, a move that gave the Rockies 10 days to either trade or release the four-time All-Star. That period expires Saturday, and if Colorado is unable to deal Reyes before then, he will be available to any team for the prorated portion of the major league minimum salary, which comes out to roughly $277,000 for the rest of the season.
Reyes brings with him the ugly stain of domestic-abuse allegations, which resulted in a 52-game suspension earlier this season.
Rounding the bases
The Minnesota Twins have signed first-round draft pick Alex Kirilloff, a corner outfielder from Pennsylvania they acquired with the 15th overall selection. … Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he might need to monitor first baseman Anthony Rizzo more closely to ensure his health for the rest of the season. The usually durable slugger missed his second start in 14 days because of back stiffness. … Veteran infielder Omar Infante cleared waivers and became a free agent. Infante was designated for assignment June 15 by the Kansas City Royals, who chose to pay him the nearly $14 million remaining on his contract rather than let him ride the bench as a utility player. … New York Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes should miss no more than a couple of games and pitcher Noah Syndergaard is expected to make his next start. A day after both players were hurt in a win over Kansas City, the Mets said that neither injury was significant.