Indians' Arias suspended for Nandrolone

NEW YORK -- Indians Minor Leaguer Skylar Arias was suspended on Monday after testing positive for a steroid.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Skylar Arias received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension of Arias is effective immediately.

Arias, 19, was the Indians' 24th-round pick in this year's Draft out of Tallahassee Community College, where he had completed his freshman year. He signed with the Tribe on June 20 and was 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings over 11 relief outings this season with the Rookie-level Arizona League Indians. The southpaw has issued just three walks and was holding batters to a .234 average.

At Tallahassee, Arias had 89 strikeouts and 19 walks this past year, averaging nearly 11 strikeouts per nine.

Nandrolone, commonly sold as Deca-Durabolin, is an anabolic steroid used to promote muscle growth, bone density and red blood cell production. It's considered a Schedule III controlled substance.

Major League Baseball has issued 68 suspensions to 67 players this year for violations of the Minor League drug program.