NEW YORK -- Former big league outfielder Nate Schierholtz was suspended for 80 games Friday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance under baseball's minor league drug program.
The 32-year-old, currently a free agent, tested positive for Ibutamoren, a growth hormone secretagogue, the commissioner's office said Friday. Studies have shown the substance can increase muscle mass.
Schierholtz was selected by San Francisco in the second round of the 2003 amateur draft and helped the Giants win World Series titles in 2010 and '12. He started this season with Detroit's Triple-A team in Toledo and hit .246 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 31 games. He was released May 23.
He batted .253 with 52 homers and 228 RBIs for San Francisco (2007-12), Philadelphia (2012), the Chicago Cubs (2013-14) and Washington (2014). He had 21 homers and 68 RBIs for the Cubs in 2012.
There have been 64 suspensions this year under the minor league drug program and 13 under the major league program.
