According to Adam Berry from MLB.com, left-handed pitcher Nik Turley has been suspended for 80 games, which will begin at the start of the 2018 season. Turley tested positive for Ipamorelin, which is considered a performance enhancing drug under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Turley was picked up off waivers from the Minnesota Twins in November. The 28-year-old made his big league debut in 2017 with the Twins, making three starts and seven relief appearances. He had a 11.21 ERA and a 2.15 WHIP in 17.2 innings.
Turley was not expected to make the Opening Day roster this year, instead serving as bullpen depth in Indianapolis after pitching well in Triple-A last year. He is out of options, but it was possible he could have been DFA’d to open up a roster spot before the season. Montana DuRapau was also supposed to pitching out of the bullpen for Indianapolis this season, but he received a 50-game suspension last week. The longer suspension for Turley is due to him being on the 40-man roster and DuRapau failing for a drug of abuse.
This suspension opens up a spot on the 40-man roster, which was full.
