Durham's Geltz suspended 50 games

Durham right-hander Steve Geltz was suspended for 50 games Monday after testing positive for a drug of abuse.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Geltz received a 50-game suspension without pay after a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension is effective immediately.

Geltz, 26, is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings over 11 games for the Bulls, Tampa Bay's Triple-A International League affiliate. He's allowed three homers and walked eight, pitching most recently on May 2 against Columbus.

A righty out of SUNY Buffalo, Geltz signed with the Angels in June 2008 and made his Major League debut on Aug. 16, 2012. He was traded to the Rays for Dane De la Rosa on March 27, 2013 and spent all of last year with Durham, going 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 41 relief appearances.

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.

Geltz is the 23rd player to be suspended for violating the Minor League drug program in 2014.