By Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk
Wow, this is a big name for one of these things. It’s usually minor leaguers. Not this time.
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension of Colabello is effective immediately.
Colabello, 32, from Framingham, Mass., and Assumption College in Worcester, rose from independent minor league ball to play for the Minnesota Twins in 2013 and 2014 and Jays last season. He has played in 10 games this season and isn’t hitting at all, going 2-for-29 in 32 plate appearances. He was a key part of the Jays attack last year, however, putting up a .321/.367/.520 line with 15 homers in 101 games.
The MLB Players Association released a statement from Colabello:
"On March 13, I got one of the scariest and most definitely the least expected phone calls of my entire life. I was informed by the Players Association that a banned substance was found in my urine. I have spent every waking moment since that day trying to find an answer as to why or how? The only thing I know is that I would never compromise the integrity of the game of baseball. I love this game too much! I care too deeply about it. I am saddened more for the impact this will have on my teammates, the organization and the fans of the Toronto Blue Jays. I hope that before anyone passes judgement on me they can take a look at the man that I am, and everything that I have done to get to where I am in my career."