On Friday afternoon, Major League Baseball announced Red Sox minor league infielder Michael Chavis has been suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the minor league drug prevention and treatment program.
The suspension will go into effect immediately. He was the top positonal prospect in the Red Sox' farm system.
Chavis was selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2014 draft. Between High-A and Double-A last year, he batted .282 with 31 homers. He was scheduled to open the year with Double-A Portland, but was on the DL.
After the suspension was announced, the Red Sox put out a statement.
"The Boston Red Sox fully support Major League Baseball and the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," it read. "While we are disappointed by the news of this violation, we will look to provide the appropriate support to Michael. Going forward, the club will not comment further on the matter."
Chavis also released a statement via his Twitter account where he denied knowing he took the banned substance.
Please see my personal statement on today's news... pic.twitter.com/LihaObpzOf
— Chief Chavis™ (@MichaelChavis11) April 6, 2018
