Blue Jays No. 2 Prospect Orelvis Martinez Makes MLB Debut, Immediately Gets Suspended 80 Games For PEDs

Talk about a rough start! On Friday, Orelvis Martinez made his MLB debut. Two days later, the league handed him an 80-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy.

Martinez — the Toronto Blue Jays' top hitting prospect — tested positive for clomiphene, a fertility drug on MLB's banned substance list.

Orelvis Martinez was suspended 80 games for PEDs.

(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

In a statement, Martinez said he was prescribed Rejun 50 (a clomiphene tablet) after visiting a fertility clinic in his native Dominican Republic. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), clomiphene can be used to treat male infertility by increasing testosterone and sperm count. Martinez said he and his girlfriend have been trying to start a family for the past two years.

"We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs," Martinez said. "Therefore, I made the mistake of not disclosing this to my team or the MLBPA.

"With that said, I took full responsibility for my negligence and accepted my suspension."

 

(Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)

Toronto GM Ross Atkins said the Blue Jays were "surprised" by the positive test.

"The Blue Jays fully support Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and strongly believe in keeping the game on a level playing field," Atkins said. "We were both surprised and disappointed to learn of Orelvis Martinez's suspension. We will do everything in our power to ensure Orelvis has learned from this mistake. Orelvis has our support, and we know he will get through this."

Martinez signed with the Blue Jays for $3.5 million in 2018 and emerged as one of the best power-hitting prospects in the minor leagues. Before his big league debut, Martinez hit 16 home runs in 63 games for Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Over the three previous seasons, he hit 86 home runs and drove in 257 runs.