Rangers left-hander Garcia suspended

Texas Rangers Minor Leaguer Martire Garcia was suspended for 50 games Thursday after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Garcia, a reliever with Double-A Frisco, received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Clomiphene, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension is effective immediately.

Garcia, 24, returned to the Minors for the first time since 2011 when he debuted with the RoughRiders on April 5, striking out a pair in two scoreless innings against Northwest Arkansas in the Texas League. In two appearances, the southpaw is 1-0 with six strikeouts, one hit and two walks allowed in four innings.

Originally signed by Minnesota in 2007, Garcia spent five seasons with the Twins from 2007-'11, reaching Class A Beloit in his final year with the organization before signing with the Rangers ahead of 2014. His best season came in 2010, when he finished 8-1 with a 3.31 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 73 1/3 frames for Beloit and Rookie-level Elizabethton.

Clomiphene is a synthetic fertility drug that is prescribed to women to induce ovulation. It's been linked to male athletes because it helps block the effects of estrogren and promotes the natural production of testosterone.

Garcia is the 20th player to be suspended for violating the Minor League drug program in 2014.