Blaise, 22, violated of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and will begin serving his suspension at the start of next season.

The lefty from Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent this past summer after going 4-4 with a 4.10 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 68 innings in college. He pitched for two seasons at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Miss., prior to Belhaven.

He appeared in eight relief outings for the Gulf Coast League Rays, finishing 1-1 with an 8.36 ERA.

Blaise signed with the Rays in June after going undrafted.

"They told me over the phone that they were impressed with what they saw live in my starts at Belhaven and were surprised I didn't get drafted," Blaise told The Dispatch (Columbus, Miss.) "My parents were so excited. My dad has been here already when he travels for work, and my mom loves baseball more than I do, so she gets to say her son is a pro ballplayer."

Blaise is the 96th player and seventh Rays Minor Leaguer to be suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program this year. The Rays have had the most amount of players suspended of MLB organizations this year.