A's Taylor, Duchene suspended for drug use

NEW YORK -- Texas League All-Star catcher Beau Taylor and fellow Oakland Minor Leaguer Kevin Duchene were suspended on Tuesday after both tested positive for banned substances.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Taylor received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine, which is considered a stimulant in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Duchene was banned for 50 games for using a drug of abuse.

Taylor's suspension will begin at the start of the 2017 season while Duchene will serve his once the Arizona League schedule kicks off in June.

Taylor, 26, spent all of 2016 with Double-A Midland, hitting .280 with five homers, 53 RBIs and a .383 on-base percentage in 95 games as a mid- and post-season Texas League All-Star. He's currently playing for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, where he's hitting .407 in 27 at-bats over eight games.

The catcher was originally drafted in the fifth round in 2011 out of Central Florida and has hit .256 with 25 homers and 239 RBIs in 1,705 career Minor League games.

Duchene, 22, was the A's fifth-round pick in 2015 out of Illinois and entered the 2016 season ranked by MLB.com as Oakland's No. 24 prospect. The left-handed reliever went 1-0 with a 3.70 ERA in seven games this past season for the Rookie-level AZL Athletics. He struck out 15 and walked 11 in 24 1/3 innings.

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.

Amphetamines are considered a stimulant and a performance-enhancing substance by the Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Minor Leaguers who test positive for PEDs are subject to a 50-game suspension upon their first violation.

Major League Baseball has handed out 89 suspensions to 88 players this year for violating the Minor League drug program.