NEW YORK -- Colorado Rockies pitcher Joseph Torres has been suspended for 50 games under baseball's minor league drug program for a positive test for an amphetamine.
Torres is a former first-round draft pick who is on the roster of Triple-A Colorado Springs. Major League Baseball said Tuesday that Torres will serve the suspension at the start of the season.
The Rockies issued a statement saying they were "very disappointed to learn that Joe Torres had been suspended after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The Colorado Rockies have long been committed to eliminating the use of performance-enhancing substances from the game of baseball."
The 29-year-old left-hander was selected by the Angels with the 10th pick of the 2000 amateur draft. He has never pitched in the major leagues. He was 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 51 relief appearances last year at Double-A Tulsa and had one appearance with the SkySox.
Sixteen players have been suspended this year under the minor league drug program.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
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