Three Houston Astros Minor Leaguers Suspended

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Three players from the Houston Astros organization have received suspensions from the Commissioner’s Office for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspensions were announced on Friday afternoon via press release by the league. Each of the players will miss a total of 50 games for testing positive for an amphetamine.

Michael Martinez and D’andre Toney have been playing with the team’s Low-A affiliate in the New York Penn League, the Tri-City ValleyCats. Jose Fernandez was on the team’s Rookie League roster, the Gulf Coast Astros.

Martinez was a 36th Round pick in the 2012 Draft. A first baseman, he’d hit just .225/.291/.413 in 237 PA on the year with Tri-City. He’d hit 11 HR but also struck out 55 times in 59 games. Toney hasn’t hit much better on the year, producing a .219/.290/.352 line in 148 PA. The former 14th Round pick in 2011 (by Kansas City) doesn’t offer much power at the plate, but did steal 13 bases on the season in 47 games. He had been splitting his time fairly evenly across the outfield. Martinez will turn 24 and Toney will be 22 before the 2014 season begins. Neither has hit much in their brief minor league careers, despite being on the older side of their respective competition.

Fernandez had been an undrafted international signing at 17. This year, as a 20 year old, he found himself back down with the team’s Rookie League affiliate where he was hitting just .258/.310/.424 in 71 PA. He’s never hit much better over his four year minor league career and his defense at shortstop has never projected to be enough to carry him.

None of the three players were considering among Houston’s top prospects. Their suspensions will begin immediately.