White Sox Minor Leaguer Arias suspended

NEW YORK -- White Sox Minor League lefty Yojensy Arias was suspended for 72 games on Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Arias received a 72-game suspension without pay after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension will begin next year and effectively keep Arias sidelined for the entire 2017 Dominican Summer League season.

Arias, 23, originally signed with the Royals out of the Dominican Republic in 2012. He joined the White Sox as a free agent in June and went 0-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 10 starts for the Rookie-level DSL White Sox, striking out 45 and walking nine in 40 2/3 innings.

The 6-foot-3 lefty is 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 31 career DSL Games since 2012. He did not pitch in 2014 or 2015.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and reduce extra fluid in the body.

Major League Baseball has handed out 82 suspensions to 81 players this year for violations of the Minor League drug program.