Jays minor-league pitcher Joel Espinal suspended 80 games for positive PED test

NEW YORK — Toronto Blue Jays minor-league pitcher Joel Espinal has been suspended 80 games for violating the league’s drug program.

Espinal, who plays for Toronto’s Class-A affiliate Dunedin of the Florida State League, was penalized Friday by the commissioner’s office.

The right-handed reliever tested positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance.

Espinal, 21, was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays in 2015. The native of the Dominican Republic had three strikeouts in three innings with a perfect earned-run average this season. He had a 5.51 ERA across 47.1 innings with the rookie-level Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League in 2017.