NEW YORK -- Two minor leaguers playing in the Venezuelan Summer League were suspended 50 games each Saturday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance under baseball's minor league drug program.
Tampa Bay outfielder Jonathan Quinonez and New York Mets pitcher Yeiger Sanchez both tested positive for metabolites of nandrolone, according to Major League Baseball. Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid.
Both suspensions were effective immediately.
Sanchez, an 18-year-old right-hander, was 0-2 with a 6.39 ERA over four starts in the rookie league. Quinonez, who is 17, was hitting .260 with nine homers in 58 games.
The suspensions came a day after two Pittsburgh Pirates minor leaguers playing in the same league were given 50-game suspensions for positive drug tests.