One of their most big-league ready starters, Alec Asher, was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball Thursday for using a testosterone-related performance enhancing drug, reported Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
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Phillies reliever Daniel Stumpf was also suspended at the beginning of the season for a positive test of Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. Asher was on the disabled list at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies issued a brief statement in response to the announcement from the Major League Baseball. Asher from Lakeland, Florida was selected by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Polk County (Fla.) Junior College. Asher was acquired along with Jerad Eickhoff, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro and Jake Thompson in the Cole Hamels deal a year ago.
Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone was developed in the 1960’s by East Germany and allegedly used by various Olympic athletes in the 1970s through the fall of the Berlin Wall before it became testable.
The Phillies received some very disappointing news today regarding pitching prospect Alec Asher.
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In addition to impacting the Minor League team, this has potential to hurt Philadelphia as well. Asher struggled, though, following his call up to the big leagues. Asher was 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA for Philadelphia in seven starts after the trade.
