Orelvis Martinez, the Toronto Blue Jays’ highly anticipated number two prospect, has been suspended 80 games for violating the MLB’s performance-enhancing policy.
The 22-year-old out of the Dominican Republic made his major league debut on June 21 after bouncing around the minor league system for the previous five years.
Martinez said he was prescribed a fertility drug this winter that led to his positive PED test, according to Jeff Passan. Martinez made an effort to keep this information private in fear of spreading false information; not many knew about it. In a statement, Martinez said, “We wanted to keep this matter private, even within our family, and trusted the doctor who assured us this treatment did not include performance-enhancing drugs.”
Martinez had an excellent year for the Buffalo Bisons, having 16 home runs and a .866 OPS in 63 games before getting the callup to Toronto. In his major league debut, Martinez went 1 for 3, collecting his first major league hit in his first game.
The Blue Jays signed Martinez on July 4th, 2018, and he quickly made his mark in the minor league system, starting with the GCL Blue Jays on June 24th, 2019. His talent propelled him through the ranks, from GCL to Dunedin and Vancouver to New Hampshire, culminating in his promotion to Buffalo in 2023.
Photo Credit: Toronto Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez as the Toronto Blue Jays fall to the Boston Red Sox 7-3 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. June 19, 2024. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
