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Tampa Bay's Nick Ciuffo Receives 50 Game Suspension

Former Lexington Wildcat and South Carolina baseball signee Nick Ciuffo gets a 50 game suspension for failing a second drug test. He is the Tampa Bay Rays organization and was first round pick in 2013.
Oct 13, 2016; Peoria, AZ, USA; Peoria Javelinas catcher Nick Ciuffo of the Tampa Bay Rays against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK (AP) - Former Tampa Bay pitcher Steve Geltz and three other minor leaguers have been suspended for drug violations.

The penalties were announced Saturday by the commissioner's office.

Geltz was banned 100 games after a third positive test for a drug of abuse. The 30-year-old righty was on Philadelphia's Triple-A roster.

In 2015, Geltz set a Rays record by retiring 32 straight batters. He last played in the majors in 2016. In four seasons with the Angels and Tampa Bay, he was a combined 2-9 with two saves and a 4.23 ERA in 110 games, all but two in relief.

Tampa Bay catcher Nick Ciuffo, on the Triple-A roster, drew a 50-game penalty for a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

San Diego Padres pitcher Alex Cunningham was suspended 50 games after testing positive for Amphetamine, a stimulant. He was at Single-A.

Pittsburgh second baseman Mitchell Tolman, on the Double-A roster, drew a 50-game suspension after a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

There have been 16 players suspended this year under the minor league program and three under the major league program: Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read and Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley.

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