Marlins' Ortiz suspended 50 games

NEW YORK -- Marlins infielder Jaime Ortiz and Cardinals pitcher Jose Pasen were each suspended for 50 games on Thursday after testing positive for banned steroids.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced that Ortiz received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for Stanozolol and Pasen received a 50-game ban after testing positive for Nandrolone -- both substances are anabolic steroids and considered performance-enhancing drugs by Major League Baseball.

The suspensions of both players are effective immediately.

Ortiz, 23, has appeared in 14 games this season with Double-A Jacksonville in the Southern League. The first baseman is batting .188 with a homer and four RBIs, his last game coming April 18 when he pinch-hit against Pensacola. The left-handed Guayama, Puerto Rico, native was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2006 Draft and joined Miami last season.

Pasen, 21, has not appeared in a game this season -- he spent last year at Class A Short-Season Batavia, where he went 4-4 with 4.45 ERA in 11 starts. The right-hander debuted with St. Louis in 2008 but has yet to progress past the Rookie level.

Major League Baseball has suspended 34 players this season for violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.