Minor League free agent Hughes suspended

Minor League free agent and former Mets farmhand Rhyne Hughes will be suspended 100 games without pay after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, the Office of the Commissioneer of Baseball announced Friday. 

This marks the second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for the 30-year-old first baseman, who received a 50-game suspension in 2011 after testing positive for an amphetamine. He served that suspension at the start of the 2012 season.

A third positive test for a performance-enhancing drug, such as amphetamines or Testosterone, would result in permanent suspension from the Major and Minor Leagues. 

Hughes became a free agent after playing in 53 games last season at Double-A Binghamton, where he slashed .278/.364/.463 with five homers and 30 RBIs. He was selected by Tampa Bay in the eighth round of the 2008 Draft and played in the Rays and Orioles systems before joining the Mets in 2013. He played in 14 Major League contests with the O's in 2010. 

Hughes's suspension begins immediately upon signing with another organization.

Following Friday's announcement, 16 players have been suspended in 2014 for violating the Minor League drug program, three of whom have been penalized for Testosterone.