Minor League Baseball announced the suspension of DSL Pirates right-handed pitcher Andy Maldonado for 72-games due to violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Maldonado failed for Stanozolol, which means he will miss the entire 2020 season.
Maldonado signed for $170,000 back on July 21, 2018, which was his 16th birthday. He received the third highest bonus for a Pirates pitcher in the 2018-19 international signing class. He has a 6’5″ frame that has plenty of projection. He threw 87-90 MPH when he signed and showed some instant additional velocity, but he had major control issues in 2019 and showed no improvements as the season went along. In 12 starts, he had an 8.62 ERA, with 37 walks in 31.1 innings.