New York Mets’ Jenrry Mejia permanently banned for PED use

According to MLB.com, New York Mets pitcher and former closer Jenrry Mejia has been permanently suspended from Major League Baseball for a third violation of the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.  The 26-year-old reliever tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid, after only appearing in seven games last season.

Mejia is the first player to receive a permanent ban from MLB for PED use, and the second to get a lifetime suspension of any kind after Pete Rose. Often known for his high velocity, Mejia was suspended for 50 games before the start of the 2015 season for his first offense, before subsequently returning and testing positive again to receive a 162-game ban.

The series of suspensions represent a rapid fall from grace for the right-hander, who at one time looked to be the Mets’ closer of the future. Mejia made his big league debut in 2010 but didn’t truly make his mark until four years later, when he posted a 3.65 ERA en route to 28 saves. He tossed 98.2 innings that season, allowing 98 hits (9.4 H/9), walking 41 (3.9 BB/9) and striking out 98 (9.4 K/9).

At his young age, the Mets obviously still had legitimate hopes that Mejia would develop into a reliable component of their bullpen. Last month they avoided arbitration by inking Mejia to a one-year, $2.47 million deal, despite the knowledge that he would not be able to pitch for much of the campaign. Now he will have to wait a whole lot longer to even have a chance of seeing a big league mound again.

Under MLB’s drug policy, Mejia can submit a petition for reinstatement after one year, although according to the terms of his ban he must sit out a minimum of two years. That means the earliest he could pitch in Major League Baseball again would be during the 2018 season. However, barring any unforeseen developments in this case, it’s difficult to see that happening.

For his part, Mejia is acting just as surprised as everyone else. “It’s not like they [MLB] say,” he told Dominican sports journalist Hector Gomez. “I’m sure I did not use anything.” It’s hard to play that card when it’s your third positive test in only a year.

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Although the Mets are surely disappointed, their bullpen shouldn’t suffer much at all. Jeurys Familia took over the closer’s role last year in Mejia’s absence and turned in an even better performance, going 43-for-48 in save opportunities to the tune of a 1.85 ERA.