Phillies pitcher Daniel Stumpf suspended for PED use
Phillies lefthanded relief pitcher Daniel Stumpf has been suspended for 80 games without pay after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone.
Daniel Stumpf, a lefthanded Phillies reliever, was suspended Thursday by Major League Baseball for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
The 25-year-old rookie from Humble, Texas, had a 40.50 ERA in three games this season. The Phillies selected him from Kansas City in last December's Rule 5 draft. On Thursday morning, when the Phillies clubhouse opened to reporters before an afternoon game against San Diego, Stumpf's locker was emptied.
Stumpf tested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid. He was suspended without pay, which will cost Stumpf approximately $223,000. His salary is $507,500, the major-league minimum.
The suspension is effective immediately. The Phillies recalled lefthanded reliever Elvis Araujo from triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Stumpf's spot on the roster.
The team, in a statement, supported MLB's drug-testing program and said it was "disappointed" to learn of Stumpf's violation.
His suspension does not affect his Rule 5 status. Stumpf must spend the entire season on the Phillies' 25-man roster, which includes the disabled and restricted lists. But, in addition, he must accrue 90 active days on the roster. His suspension will end July 10, assuming the Phillies have no postponed games before that.
If anything, the suspension makes it easier to keep Stumpf — if the Phillies decide he is worth retaining.
Stumpf made three appearances for the Phillies this season. He walked two and surrendered a grand slam in the season's third game at Cincinnati. His next two appearances, each limited to one batter, were successful.
Stumpf is the fifth Phillies player to be suspended for banned substances while on the active 25-man roster. The others were Antonio Bastardo, Freddy Galvis, J.C. Romero and Carlos Ruiz.