Colorado Rockies prospect Colton Welker was suspended without pay for 80 games on Thursday for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The commissioner’s office announced the suspension for Welker, who is on the Rockies’ 40-man roster and currently is playing for Triple-A Albuquerque. Welker tested positive for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT), a performance-enhancing substance that is banned by the league.
The suspension immediately took effect.
The Rockies provided a statement after the news was announced.
“The Rockies organization fully supports MLB’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and we believe that Colton will learn from this experience,” the team said.
Welker, 23, was the Rockies’ fourth-round draft pick in 2016 out of Stoneman-Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. He has hit 34 homers with 204 RBIs in 330 games in the Colorado organization, most recently for Double-A Hartford.
–Field Level Media