fbpx

Dodgers News: Quakes’ Ivan Vieitez Suspended 50 Games For Positive Drug Test

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League pitcher Ivan Vieitez was suspended 50 games for testing positive for Ritalinic Acid, a stimulant. MLB also announced suspensions for Minor League pitchers in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Greg Belton; 50 games) and Cincinnati Reds (Brian Hunter; 80) organizations.

Vieitez was selected by the Dodgers 27th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. The right-hander made his professional debut that year with Rookie-Level Ogden, going 1-4 with a 6.10 ERA in 17 games (11 starts).

Vieitez was 4-4 with a 3.86 ERA while appearing in 28 games, exclusively as a reliever, with Low-A Great Lakes last season. He was aggressively promoted to Double-A Tulsa at the outset of this season.

The 24-year-old struggled with the Drillers, going 1-3 with a 4.97 ERA, and was demoted to High-A Rancho Cucamonga in June.

Over four games with the Quakes, Vieitez went 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA, while collecting seven strikeouts against two walks in 8.1 innings pitched. He’s a lifetime 7-11 with three saves, a 4.79 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 61 walks and 108 strikeouts in 154 innings across 60 games (19 starts) over parts of four Minor League seasons.

The suspension went into effect June 16, which makes Vieitez eligible to return Aug. 11. He’s the third pitcher this year from the Dodgers organization to test positive for a PED or stimulant and receive a suspension.

Jair Jurrjens was given an 80-game ban in June, removing him from Triple-A Oklahoma City roster, while Edward Perez of the Dominican Summer League Dodgers received a 72-game (entire season) suspension in April.

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com