Rays' Linsky, free agent Gonzales suspended

Rays Minor League reliever Lenny Linsky and former Blue Jays first-round pick Aaron Gonzales were suspended for 50 games apiece Thursday after testing positive for drugs of abuse.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Linsky, a 24-year-old right-hander, will begin serving his suspension immediately, while Gonzales' ban is effective immediately upon his signing with a Major League organization.

Both players were suspended following a second positive test for a drug of abuse, which is a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Linsky, the Rays' second-round pick in 2011 out of Hawaii, did not appear in a Minor League game in 2014 after going 7-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 72 2/3 innings over 39 outings in 2013 with Class A Advanced Charlotte. 

Gonzales, who uses his middle name, Tyler, was one of Toronto's first-round picks in 2012, but did not appear in a game this season. The 21-year-old, the No. 60 overall pick out of James Madison High School in San Antonio, Texas, was released by Toronto on July 21. In 18 career Minor League games, the 6-foot-2 righty went 2-2 with a 9.24 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays.

Players are typically issued a warning following a first positive test for a drug of abuse and a suspension for a second offense. Substances considered "drugs of abuse" by Major League Baseball include cocaine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and other opiates. Minor Leaguers who test positive for a performance-enhancing substance are subjected to an immediate 50-game suspension.

Major League Baseball has suspended 52 players this year for violating the Minor League drug program.