Wayne Dedrick, a third baseman on the Brewers’ Arizona Rookie League roster, has been suspended 50 games after testing positive a second time for a “drug of abuse.”
After 5 years of Jeremy Jeffress, Brewers fans know that phrase all too well.
Dedrick was drafted in the 30th round of the 2008 draft, and hit .227/.298/.324 as a 19-year old in the AZL. He missed all of last season due to injury, and has never been a highly-thought-of prospect. Looking back on some scouting reports from the 2008 draft, he’s apparently a good athlete with some power potential, but hasn’t had the opportunity to show it on the field. Now he’ll have to wait even longer.
As most know by now, the minor league testing policy differs from the major league policy in that players can be suspended after testing positive for “drugs of abuse.” The first offense only leads to counseling, but getting popped a second time means a 50-game suspension. As we saw with Jeffress, a third positive leads to a 100-game suspension. A fourth would have meant the death penalty — a lifetime ban from baseball.
Dedrick’s 50-game ban won’t start until the start of the Arizona League season. Considering the AZL only plays 56 games a year, this is nearly a season-long ban. Needless to say, that’s not good for the development of a guy who has already missed one full season.
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