D-backs' Alvarez suspended 50 games

D-backs second baseman Antonio Alvarez and free-agent right-hander Daryl Thompson were handed 50-game suspensions Thursday after testing positive for banned substances.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Alvarez, 22, received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for exogenous Testosterone, while Thompson, 28, was disciplined following a second violation for a drug of abuse.

Alvarez's suspension will be effective at the start of the 2014 Pioneer League season, while Thompson would serve his after signing with another Major League club.

Alvarez, drafted by Arizona in the 22nd round of the 2013 Draft, spent his first season with the Rookie-level Missoula Osprey, hitting .222 with no home runs, nine RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .391 on-base percentage in 35 Pioneer League games. The switch-hitting Miami native, selected out of Elon University, also made eight errors while turning 22 double plays, seeing limited action at third base and short.

Thompson was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the eighth round of the 2003 Draft and made his Major League debut with Cincinnati in 2008, appearing in three games. He made it back to the big leagues in 2011, pitching three innings on May 26, but spent the 2012 campaign with the Twins at Triple-A Rochester before appearing in four contests for the Mets with Triple-A Las Vegas last summer.

He's 0-3 with an 8.31 ERA in 17 1/3 innings over four Major League games while going 50-51 with a 3.66 ERA in 938 1/3 frames over 11 seasons in the Minors since 2003. The righty spent the majority of the 2013 season with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League before inking a Minor League contract with the Mets on Aug. 21. He was granted free agency on Nov. 5.

Major League Baseball has now suspended eight players in 2014 for their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.