Ex-Met Brown suspended 50 games

Former Mets third baseman Brandon Brown was suspended for 50 games on Tuesday after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

Brown, the Mets' 22nd-round pick in the 2010 Draft, tested positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Brown's suspension will be effective immediately upon his signing with another Major League organization.

Brown, 24, spent the past three seasons in the Mets' system, hitting .237 with 11 homers, 65 RBIs, 26 stolen bases and a .305 on-base percnetage in 178 games with Rookie-level Kingsport, Class A Short-Season Brooklyn and Class A Savannah.

Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone, and it is sometimes prescribed by veterinarians to encourage muscle growth, red blood cell production, bone density and to stimulate the appetite of weakened animals.

Brown was drafted out of the University of South Alabama after attending J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment, Fla. He's the 18th player suspended this year for violating the Minor League drug program.