For the second straight season, the Boston Red Sox will start the season without Steven Wright. This time for violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
On Wednesday, Mark Feinsand reported that Boston Red Sox knuckleballer, Steven Wright will be suspended 80-games for violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2 (GHRP-2), a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) March 6, 2019
After the news was broken, the Red Sox released a statement, also via Feinsand, saying:
"“The Boston Red Sox fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and its efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing substances from the game. While we are disappointed by the news of this violation, we will look to provide the appropriate support to Steven at this time. Going forward, the club will not comment further on the matter.”"
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Apparently, upon learning of the failed drug test earlier this offseason, Steven Wright appealed the suspension, saying to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, “‘We couldn’t figure out how this substance got into my body… But at the end of the day, it’s my responsibility… It falls on me.’”
The suspension, under MLB rules, disqualifies Wright from postseason play in 2019 should the Red Sox make it to the playoffs.
Last season, Wright was also ineligible to start the season because of a suspension. That time he was suspended 15-games for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy.
In that incident, Wright was arrested following an incident involving his wife. Wright was charged with domestic assault and preventing a 911 call, both charges that are considered misdemeanors in Tennessee.
He would later be released on bond, the charges eventually dropped.
In Steven Wright, the Red Sox lose a rare knuckleball pitcher, who in 2018 appeared in 20 games while tossing 53.2 IP with a 2.68 ERA. What’s worse, after losing Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel, a weak Red Sox bullpen appears even worse now.
The timing on this suspension could not have come at a worse time for the Boston Red Sox. Fortunately, they just might have enough offense to score their way to another World Series.