Joe Pistorese, a left-handed pitcher in the Seattle Mariners minor league organization, has been banned 50 games after a positive drug test.
Pistorese, a 17th-round draft pick this year from Kalispell who was 6-0 with a 1.28 ERA at Class A Everett, tested positive for an amphetamine. The 22-year-old grew up in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead High School in 2011. The suspension was announced Sept. 4.
Players who violate the MLB’s Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program are subject to suspensions from the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. Players who test positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance or test positive twice for a drug of abuse can receive suspensions as well as players who refuse to take a drug test.
Suspensions are announced by the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball.
There have been 83 suspensions this year under the minor league program, including 32 for drugs of abuse.