NEW YORK -- Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Junior Lopez has been suspended for 25 games for violating baseball's minor league drug program.
The penalty for the 25-year-old right-hander was announced by the commissioner's office Friday. While the nature of the violation was not announced, the minor league drug program calls for a ban of that length for use or possession of a syringe.
Lopez is on the roster of Bradenton in the Class A Florida State League. He went 3-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 37 relief appearances last year with Bradenton and pitched in one game for Altoona of the Double-A Eastern League.