Alex Colome suspended 50 games for steroid use

Alex Colome has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for steroid use, likely a metabolite of Boldenon, an anabolic steroid developed for veterinary use, mostly for treatment of horses.

Colome, considered a top arm in the Rays farm system, made his major league debut last season. He would be sidelined mid-season by elbow soreness, but opted to not have surgery. It would be a reasonable speculation to believe steroid use may be connected to the injury.

In a statement, the Rays said:

"We were disappointed to learn of Alex Colome's violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. We fully support Major League Baseball's policy and its efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing substances from our game. Per the protocol outlined in the Joint Drug Program, the organization will not comment further on this matter." [tampabay.com]

The suspension will begin with the 2014 season.

Alex Colome was tabbed the Rays fifth-best prospect in the DRaysBay writer's poll, and in the Beyond the Box Score aggregate rankings.