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Swarzak gets 50-game suspension

April 21, 2007
NEW YORK -- Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Anthony Swarzak was suspended Friday for 50 games for testing positive for a drug of abuse.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced the suspension for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Swarzak, a 2004 second-round draft pick, is 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA in two games (one start) with Double-A New Britain. Last season, the 21-year-old right-hander went 11-7 with a 3.27 ERA in 27 starts with Class A Advanced Fort Myers .

"It's disappointing," Twins general manager Terry Ryan told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "We take a lot of pride in making sure the players are educated. A mistake has been made here, and players need to be held accountable for their actions.

"Unfortunately, 50 games of a season is quite a bit of the season. It's going to cost him development time. There's consequences of him not being able to go out and take the mound. He isn't developing. That's what's sad."