:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36188714/20130309_lbm_an4_222.0.jpg)
Third baseman Nick Delmonico -- one of the Brewers' top prospects -- has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for amphetamines.
Delmonico was acquired in 2013 when the Brewers traded Francisco Rodriguez to the Orioles mid-season. Rodriguez, of course, resigned with Milwaukee after a mediocre few months in Baltimore. Delmonico, meanwhile, had been a top-five prospect for the Orioles and was recently ranked by MLB.com as the Brewers' 17th-best prospect.
The 22-year-old hasn't exactly been lighting it up for High-A Brevard County, batting .262/.300/.404 with four home runs in 37 games. He holds a career minor league OPS of 744, but has yet to advance to Double-A after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Amphetamines can help increase focus and concentration and are often used to treat attention deficit disorder. Major League players receive a 25-game suspension if they test positive for the drug twice, as evidenced by the punishment levied on Cameron Maybin five days ago.
Delmonico has twice missed time this year already due to unknown personal issues. The missed time, along with his performance, threatens to see him enter near non-prospect territory. Hopefully he can come back strong from this suspension and once again begin making forward progress in his career.
