NEW YORK -- Chicago White Sox pitcher Nick Blount and Chicago Cubs shortstop Elliot Soto have been suspended for 50 games each for violations of baseball's minor league drug program.
Blount was penalized following a positive test for an amphetamine and Soto for a second violation for a drug of abuse. The suspensions announced Friday will start next season.
A 23-year-old right-hander, Blount was 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA this year for the Great Falls Voyagers of the rookie level Pioneer League. He was selected by the White Sox in the ninth round of this year's amateur draft.
Soto, 24, was a 15th-round draft pick from Creighton in 2010 and is on the roster of Daytona of the Class A Florida State League. He batted .331 with no homers and 18 RBIs in 135 at-bats last season for Daytona and .269 with two homers and six RBIs in 121 at-bats for Tennessee of the Double-A Southern League.
There have been 59 suspensions this year under the minor league drug program and 15 under the major league program.
