According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, Major League Baseball suspended LHP Andrew McKirahan for 80 games after testing positive for PEDs. Rosenthal did not indicate which drug McKirahan tested positive.
Atlanta Braves’ beat writers David O’Brien and Mark Bowman have confirmed the suspension since Rosenthal’s original report. And Bowman reported McKirahan apologized to teammates Sunday. McKirahan admitted he used a cream during Spring Training.
The Miami Marlins selected McKirahan in the Rule 5 Draft from the Cubs in December. McKirahan was placed on waivers after Miami decided he would not make the team out of Spring Training. The Braves claimed the lefty before he cleared and was offered back to the Cubs.
In three relief appearances, McKirahan had allowed two runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings (4.15 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 2.78 FIP).
Andrew McKirahan is the second pitcher currently in the Braves system previously with the Cubs that has been suspended for PEDs this season.
RHP Arodys Vizcaino, who the Cubs traded back to Atlanta for INF Tommy La Stella in the off-season, was suspended for 80 games on April 2 after testing positive for Stanozolol.
The Cubs selected Andrew McKirahan in the 21st round of the 2011 draft. The Cubs did not add McKirahan to the 40-man roster last fall and left the southpaw unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft.
The 25-year old missed parts of two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. McKirahan was very good last year and posted a combined 2-4 record between 44 appearances between Daytona and Tennessee. McKirahan allowed 19 runs, 15 earned, on 57 hits with 57 strikeouts and 14 walks in 65 innings. At Double-A Tennessee, McKirahan struck out 24 batters in 28 2/3 innings with six walks and allowed 28 hits.
Updated 10:46am CDT – According to Mark Bowman, Andrew McKirahan tested positive in March before the Braves claimed him off waivers. The results were not revealed until Sunday.
Updated 11:34am CDT – Major League Baseball announced McKirahan was suspended for 80 games without pay after testing positive for Ipamorelin.