Astros’ Martes suspended 80 games for drug test

For the second straight spring training, the path of a promising Astros righthander was derailed.

Pitcher Francis Martes was suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Clomiphene, Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Astros said they “hope that Francis can learn from this experience and that he returns to have a successful career.”

Clomiphene is an ovulatory stimulant often used by infertile women. It is not FDA-approved for use by men, according to the USDA, and can alter their testosterone levels — thus placing it on the list of banned substances.

Martes underwent Tommy John surgery last August and was not projected to return until the second half of this season. His suspension will begin at the start of the 2019 regular season. Once Houston’s top pitching prospect, Martes rose as high as No. 17 in Baseball America’s rankings of the sport’s best minor leaguers prior to 2017. The righthander made his major league debut that season, striking out 69 in 54 ⅓ innings for the World Series champions. Martes had a 5.80 major league ERA.

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Martes made just five starts this season before his elbow problems were discovered. He underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 15.

Earlier this month, while rehabilitating at spring training, Martes said he hoped to pitch in a game in either August or September. He reported no problems with his road back from surgery.

Martes’ suspension comes nearly a year after righthander Forrest Whitley — the Astros’ top pitching prospect — was suspended 50 games for violating baseball’s joint drug prevention and treatment program.

Whitley’s positive test was not believed to be for a performance-enhancing substance, though no impetus for his positive test has ever been revealed. Major League Baseball customarily lists the name of a drug if it is a performance-enhancing drug. Martes’ suspension is the second in three years by an Astros player for a performance-enhancing substance. David Paulino, who was eventually traded to the Blue Jays, was popped for 80 games during the 2017 season after testing positive for Boldenone.

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