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Drug ban for Phils rookie INF

 
Published June 20, 2012

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies rookie INF Freddy Galvis was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for testing positive for a banned substance.

Galvis, on the disabled list with a back injury, will begin serving his suspension immediately and likely will be on the DL for the duration. MLB said Galvis, 22, tested positive for a metabolite of Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance.

"A trace amount of a banned substance — 80 parts in a trillion — was detected in my urine sample," Galvis said in a statement. "I am extremely disappointed in what has transpired. I cannot understand how even this tiny particle of a banned substance got into my body.

"I have not and never would knowingly use anything illegal to enhance my performance. I have always tried to follow the team's strength and conditioning methods, listen to the trainers, work out hard and eat right. Unfortunately, the rules are the rules and I will be suspended."

Galvis, listed at 5 feet 10 and 170 pounds, had been filling in for injured 2B Chase Utley. He was batting .226 with three homers, 15 doubles and 24 RBIs.

BECKETT UNCONCERNED: Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett told ESPN.com that an MRI exam showed no damage to his inflamed right shoulder, and he expects to be activated off the disabled list when eligible just before the All-Star break. Beckett, 32, has a 4.14 ERA and a career-worst 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 12 starts.

In other Red Sox news, OF Cody Ross was activated from the 15-day disabled list after missing a month with a fractured left foot. OF Scott Podsednik went on the DL with a strained left groin.

EX-RAYS ACE HAS JOB: LHP Scott Kazmir, who pitched for the Rays from 2004-08 and was a two-time All-Star, agreed to a deal with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League. The Skeeters play in his hometown of Houston. Kazmir, 29, last appeared in the majors for the Angels in April 2011.

CUBAN DEFECTS: OF Yasel Puig, 21, has defected from Cuba and is in the process of establishing residency in Mexico, the first step to becoming eligible for free agency, his agent Jaime Torres told MLB.com.

ANGELS: RHP Jerome Williams, who was hospitalized Monday night when he complained of shortness of breath after he left his start against the Giants, was resting at a hospital a day later after undergoing several tests.

BRAVES: RHP Brandon Beachy, who is tied for the major-league lead with a 2.00 ERA, is set to visit orthopedist Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on the partial tear in his right elbow.

ORIOLES: LF Nolan Reimold, who has been out since April 30 because of a herniated disc, won't return to the team until after the All-Star break, manager Buck Showalter said. The club is waiting to hear from a cervical specialist who examined Reimold over the weekend.

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PIRATES: Hall of Fame 2B Bill Mazeroski will join the team on the bench during its three-game series with the Twins this week. Mazeroski, 75, who often advises 2B Neil Walker during spring training, accepted an invitation from manager Clint Hurdle.

RANGERS: CF Josh Hamilton returned to the lineup after missing four starts because of an intestinal virus.

ROYALS: CF Lorenzo Cain, who strained his left groin in April then tore a hip flexor during his minor-league rehab, has started a new rehab assignment.

TIGERS: RH reliever Octavio Dotel, out since June 3 with right elbow inflammation, was activated from the 15-day disabled list. RHP Thad Weber was optioned to Triple-A Toledo.

WHITE SOX: LHP John Danks, who went on the disabled list May 20 with shoulder soreness, could begin a rehab assignment in three to four weeks after tests confirmed he has a mild muscle strain in his pitching shoulder.