Phillies rookie Freddy Galvis has been out of the lineup with an injured back, looks like he is going to begin missing time for another reason.
Galvis was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s drug policy, the Phillies announced Tuesday.
CSNPhilly.com reports that the light-hitting middle infielder was suspended for a positive test for a metabolite of the performance-enhancing drug Clostebol.
The Phillies released the following statement about the failed test:
The Phillies continue to believe in and endorse Major League Baseball's drug policy. We also support Freddy Galvis in his determination to put this matter behind him and we look forward to his return as a productive member of the Phillies as soon as possible.
The suspension begins immediately despite Galvis being on the disabled list.
Just last week the team announced that the young second baseman would continue his stint on the 15-day disabled list wearing a back brace for a pars fracture in his back.
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The 22-year-old was batting .226 with a .254 on-base percentage and .363 slugging percentage with three homers, 24 RBIs, 14 runs and 15 doubles in 58 games this season. His return to the lineup was questionable anyways after the team announced last week that the young second baseman would continue his stint on the 15-day disabled list wearing a back brace for a pars fracture in his back.
He was originally shut down two weeks ago after hurting his back in a game against the Dodgers.
Galvis was apologetic to fans and explained that he has no idea how the substance got into his system in a statement released on his behalf by the team.
“A trace amount of a banned substance -- 80 parts in a trillion -- was detected in my urine sample. I am extremely disappointed in what has transpired. I cannot understand how even this tiny particle of a banned substance got into my body. I have not and never would knowingly use anything illegal to enhance my performance. I have always tried to follow the team’s strength and conditioning methods, listen to the trainers, work out hard and eat right. Unfortunately, the rules are the rules and I will be suspended.
“I’d like to apologize to my all my fans, especially here in Philadelphia and back home in Venezuela, to my teammates and to the Phillies organization. I am looking forward to putting this behind me, rehabilitating my back and returning to the Phillies as soon as possible to try to help them win another World Series.”
It is still to be seen if fans will forgive the young Phillie.
