Phillies minor-leaguer Steve Geltz suspended for drug use
The pitcher was signed last month by the Phillies and invited to spring training. He was barred after a third failed drug test.
Steve Geltz, a pitcher who was signed last month by the Phillies and invited to spring training, was suspended by Major League Baseball for 100 games Saturday after a third failed drug test.
Geltz, 30, spent last season in the minors with the Dodgers farm system, which was run by new Phillies manager Gabe Kapler. A good camp would have given Geltz a legitimate shot at cracking the Phillies bullpen as they plan to start the season with eight relievers. His suspension begins at the beginning of the season. Geltz had a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings last season at triple A. The righthander has appeared in 110 major-league games over four seasons with the Angels and Rays.
His positive test was for a drug of abuse and not a stimulant or performance enhancer. Geltz was suspended for 50 games in May 2014 after testing positive for marijuana when he was with Tampa Bay. That was his second failed test; a first failed test does not carry a suspension.