D-backs' Smith suspended 50 games

D-backs prospect Eric Smith and Pirates right-hander Delvin Hiciano were each handed 50-game suspensions on Thursday for their violations of the Minor League drug program.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced that Smith, Arizona's second-round pick in the 2009 Draft, received a 50-game suspension without pay after a second violation for a drug of abuse. Hiciano tested positive for the banned steroid Stanozolol. Both will being serving their suspensions immediately.

Smith, who was placed on the Mobile BayBears' seven-day disabled list on July 23 with a knee contusion, is 1-3 with a 7.11 ERA in 33 games this season, most coming in relief. He has 27 strikeouts in 38 innings and last pitched on July 19 against Montgomery.

A Rhode Island product, the 24-year-old right-hander debuted with the D-backs in 2009 and earned Midwest League All-Star honors in 2010. In five Minor League seasons, the 6-foor-3 righty is 19-32 with a 5.10 ERA in 142 career games.

Players are typically issued a warning following a first positive test for a drug of abuse, followed by a suspension for a second offense. Substances considered "drugs of abuse" by Major League Baseball include cocaine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and other opiates. Minor Leaguers who test positive for a performance-enhancing substance are subjected to an immediate 50-game suspension.

Hiciano, 21, is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in five relief outings with the Dominican Summer League Pirates.

Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone that is sometimes prescribed by veterinarians to encourage muscle growth, red blood cell production, bone density and to stimulate the appetite of weakened animals. It's also been linked to body builders and several former Major Leaguers players.

Major League Baseball has suspended 33 players in 2013 -- including five this week -- following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Eight of those suspensions have stemmed from the use of Stanozolol.