Acosta, Retherford banned 50 games

Former Dodgers Minor Leaguers C.J. Retherford and Ryan Acosta were suspended Friday for violating the Minor League drug program.

Acosta, who was released by the Dodgers on Thursday, and fellow free agent Retherford received 50-game suspensions without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine. The suspensions will be effective immediately after each player signs with another Major League organization.

Acosta had appeared in 14 games this season between Double-A Chattanooga and Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, He pitched a scoreless inning for the Quakes on May 24 and was 0-1 with a 13.25 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old right-hander was drafted by the Cubs in 2007 and signed with the Yankees before joining the Dodgers in 2011.

Retherford, also released earlier this week, was a 2012 MiLB.com organization All-Star and was hitting .219 with four homers, 26 RBIs, a .273 on-base percentage and 18 runs scored in 47 games with Chattanooga.

Signed by the White Sox out of Arizona State in 2007, Retherford, 27, was a 2012 California League All-Star with Rancho Cucamonga after earning Southern League All-Star honors in 2009 with Double-A Birmingham.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball has suspended 24 players this year for violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.