MiLB drug program testing waters for MLB
Many of the report's findings, conclusions and suggestions refer to or encompass Minor League Baseball as well -- and that shouldn't be surprising.
In fact, Minor League Baseball was something of a "guinea pig" for the Commissioner's Office as far back as 2001, when the office implemented drug testing around the Minors. The program was used as a basis for the proposal made to the Players Association the next year when they began discussing such a program for the Majors, a program which was officially implemented in 2005.
Minor League Baseball as a governing body does not actually control the program, but supports it 100 percent, according to newly elected president Pat O'Conner, who has served as MiLB's vice president for more than a decade.
"The program is administered by the Commissioner's Office through the team trainers and the laboratories, so we're really not a party to that process aside from granting access and allowing the program to go on as far as the Commissioner has outlined," said O'Conner. "But we bought into it wholeheartedly because we believe in the process."
Under the program instituted in 2001, the use, sale or distribution of Schedule III steroids were prohibited, though at the time that prohibition did not cover certain supplements that had anabolic effects and were available over the counter (such as androstenedione and DHEA).
Major League Baseball has the ability to impose its rules unilaterally across the Minors because MiLB players, with the exception of those on 40-man rosters, are not members of the MLBPA, the baseball players' union.
Those players could be randomly tested up to four times a year as well as any additional times that "reasonable cause" might justify.
In the intervening years, those initial rules have been tweaked and strengthened with regard to such areas as the list of prohibited substances, the number of tests and testing procedures and, most notably, the penalties for failed tests.
In addition, only recently have the suspensions and penalties in the Minors differentiated between performance-enhancing substances, such as steroids, and "drugs of abuse," such as marijuana, cocaine, etc., though the specific substance itself is not specified when a player tests positive. Major League Baseball does not currently test players for drugs of abuse.
Drug Testing and Prevention Programs | |
Minor League |
Major League |
Performance enhancing substances |
|
•Anabolic Androgenic Steroids •Prohormone Nutritional Supplements |
•Anabolic Androgenic Steroids |
Other substances tested for |
|
•Drugs of Abuse (Cocaine, LSD, Marijuana, Opiates, PCP, Ecstacy, GHB, etc.) |
•Stimulants |
Testing procedures |
|
•Players subject to four unannounced tests per year •Belief of reasonable cause |
•Players tested five days prior to Spring Training •Players subject to one unannounced test on randomly selected date •Additional 600 unnanounced tests conducted of randomly selected players •Belief of reasonable cause |
Discipline |
|
•Failure to comply: 1st offense: 50-gm susp. 2nd offense: 100-gm susp. 3rd offense: permanent susp.
•Positive test for Drug of Abuse:
|
•Failure to comply: 1st offense: 15 to 25-gm susp. 2nd offense: 25 to 50-gm susp. 3rd offense: 50 to 75-gm susp. 4th offense: One year susp.
•Positive test for Performance Enhancing Substance:
•Positive test for Stimulant: |
![]() |
Ironically, the initial revision lowered the original penalties, but since mid-2005, the Minors have had the same penalties in place as the Majors for use of performance-enhancing drugs: a 50-game suspension for first offense, a 100-game suspension for the second offense and a "three strikes, you're out" rule for third offense. (In the case of a drug of abuse, the first offense is dealt with via a treatment program before moving onto the 50-100-out track).
But many of the rules in the Minors only apply to non-40-man roster players, so that Minor Leaguers who are on their respective clubs' 40-man rosters (including several top picks who are automatically added to such lists as part of their signing agreements) are subject only to the Major League agreement, not the overall, more stringent, Minor League program.
Rules have been tweaked and tightened both on the Minor League and Major League sides of the coin, through observation, trial and error.
O'Conner does believe that what has worked -- and not worked -- on the Minor League side has probably had some impact on the Major League program.
"I don't think there is any question, as you do something you learn from it. I'd certainly think their experience with the Minor League program gave them some insight into formulating the Major League program," he said. "They put a lot of energy and resources into the Minor League program and I think any data, trends, empirical data or logistical lessons they learned they used."
However you look at it, the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (MLDPTP) has worked to a large degree, with the number of positive tests and suspensions dropping increasingly since its inception.
In 2001, two rounds of random in-season testing resulted in a 9.1 percent positive result. In 2002, that number fell to 4.8 percent and in 2003 it dropped further to 4 percent. By 2005, only 1.78 percent of random player tests came out positive, and that number dropped even further to 0.36 percent in 2006 (2007 results are not yet available).
"I think it's had positive results," said O'Conner, who stressed that he was speaking strictly from his own observations rather than as an "official authority" on the subject or its numbers. "I think whenever you start changing a culture, or the perception of a culture, there are some trials and tribulations. But I think the policy has been tinkered with in a positive way to make it more applicable and fair while not straying from its goal."
There is no way to know for sure the reasons that the success rate has been so good and so consistent, but it's fair to say it's probably been a combination of a few factors, including the education of players on the dangers and health hazards of performance-enhancement drugs and seeing the fallout from other players' public penalization.
"There is no question that at the Minor League level, Major League Baseball has done a good job of trying to come in and educate players, not only on the short-term but the long-term effects," O'Conner said. "The program has been both educational and a deterrent."
That said, O'Conner knows that neither the Major nor Minor Leagues' job is done.
"There will always be that element that tries to get an edge, but there's more awareness and knowledge now," he said. "I can't say we're totally clean, I know we're not, but I don't think there is any question that the efforts are having a positive impact."
And what additional effect does he think the publicity and chatter that this report is generating will have on the Minor League side?
"I would hope that Minor Leaguers will look at this and realize that this stuff can be factually proven," he said. "Baseball wants to clean up its act and it starts with them. I hope the positive part of this report is that we want to take steps to clean it up and have it last."
The Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program is and continues to be a work in progress, as the rules, restrictions and penalties are regularly updated. In fact, changes for the 2008 season, such as additional new banned substances and the streamlining of timing set forth in the policy, were already in progress when the Mitchell Report was released and will be finalized and announced in coming weeks.
Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between