Minor League Pitchers on Cubs, Twins Given 72-Game Drug Bans

NEW YORK (AP) – Assael Aquino and Luiz Escanio of the Chicago Cubs and Daulin Ramirez of the Minnesota Twins have been suspended 72 games each following positive tests under baseball’s minor league drug program.
The commissioner’s office said Thursday the three, all right-handed pitchers on Dominican Summer League rosters, tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.

Aquino, 22, is 1-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 20 relief appearances over two seasons. Escanio, also 22, is 1-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 37 relief appearances over three seasons.

Ramirez, 20, originally signed with Tampa Bay as a third baseman, hit .085 (10 for 117) in 2013, then was released and signed with the Twins as a pitcher. He is 5-3 with a 6.46 ERA in 26 relief appearances over the last two seasons.

There have been 60 suspensions this year under the minor league drug program.