Cardinals Triple-A Pitcher Matt Pearce Suspended

photo: Matt Pearce (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Major League Baseball press release

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today (Friday) that four Minor League players have been suspended following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Chicago Cubs Minor League right-handed pitcher David Garner, who is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs of the Pacific Coast League, has received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Boston Red Sox Minor League catcher Oscar Hernandez, who is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League, has received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Matt Pearce (Palm Beach Cardinals)

St. Louis Cardinals Minor League right-handed pitcher Matt Pearce, who is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League, has received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League shortstop Andrew Walker, who is currently on the roster of the Single-A West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League, has received a 50-game suspension without pay for a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspensions of all four players will be effective at the beginning of their respective 2018 seasons.

Brian Walton’s take

As Cardinals minor league camp opened, I had immediately noted Pearce’s absence to The Cardinal Nation members. He was apparently told not to report, perhaps while the due process was followed to its completion. A Cardinals official declined to comment about the matter at that time. The 24-year old is now on the Restricted List and will remain there until late May.

Pearce had performed admirably in 2017, making 17 starts for Double-A Springfield, where he was a mid-season and post-season Texas League All-Star, and tied for the Double-A league’s lead in complete games and shutouts. Pearce was the Texas League Player of the Month in May, a rare honor for pitchers to achieve.

Promoted in mid-July, Pearce logged 10 more starts for the Triple-A Redbirds, posting a 4.06 ERA across both stops.  The right-hander led the entire system with 164 innings pitched and 27 games started. His 14 wins tied Jack Flaherty for tops among Cardinals minor leaguers last season.

The Cardinal Nation named the Florida native the system’s 35th-ranked prospect coming into 2018. Now, Pearce will have considerable catching up to do. Only time will tell if this mistake compromises his major league dream.

In each of last two springs, a Cardinals farmhand faced a drug of abuse suspension. First was top prospect pitcher Alex Reyes, called out in November 2015. In his public apology, Reyes noted his drug was marijuana, a substance not tested in major leaguers. Last spring, Springfield pitcher Corey Littrell received 50 games as well. Neither Littrell’s nor Pearce’s specific drugs were disclosed.

Another Cardinal minor leaguer, short-season catcher Tyler Lancaster, was suspended for 72 games last August for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, with his time out continuing well into 2018.

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 25-man and 40-man rosters as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation: Cardinals Welcome 181 to 2017 Minors Camp

Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system. Annual members may purchase the new 2018 Prospect Guide PDF version for less than half price. Our limited edition printed and bound Guide is now sold out.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2018 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.