Rays All-Star Blanchard suspended

Rays Minor Leaguer Coty Blanchard was suspended for 50 games Tuesday after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Blanchard, a 23-year-old infielder/outfielder with Class A Bowling Green, received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine, a stimulant in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension is effective immediately.

Blanchard, the Rays' 13th-round pick in the 2013 Draft out of Jacksonville State in Alabama, was batting .314 with a homer, 18 RBIs and four stolen bases in 39 Midwest League games this season. He debuted in 2013 with Rookie-level Princeton and was a New York-Penn League All-Star last summer with Class A Short Season Hudson Valley, where hit batted .298 with a pair of home runs and 30 RBIs in 66 games.

The Fort Payne, Alabama, native last played June 1, when he went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and three runs scored for the Hot Rods. Listed as a third baseman, the right-hander has seen time this season at shortstop, left and right field and first base while also appearing twice at third. Most of his appearances have come at first or in left.

Blanchard is the 52nd player and second from Bowling Green to be suspended this season for violating the Minor League drug program -- Spencer Edwards was banned for 80 games on Feb. 13 after testing positive for three banned drugs while on the Hot Rods' roster.