Mets' Mejia suspended 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol
New York Mets closer Jenrry Mejia won't be returning to the mound any time soon, regardless of how his wonky right elbow feels.
The 25-year-old received an 80-game suspension without pay Saturday after testing positive for Stanozolol, the same steroid that earned Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana an 80-game ban earlier this month.
"We're very disappointed. I mean, extremely disappointed," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We came into this whole thing in spring training with huge expectations and the back end of our bullpen being very, very strong. So we're all shocked and disappointed, but we stand by the rules and what Major League Baseball has put down. We'll have to regroup and get through the next 80 games with somebody else."
Mejia, who was placed on the disabled list earlier this week due to inflammation in his elbow, intimated in a statement, though, that he did not willingly ingest an illicit substance.
“I know the rules and I will accept my punishment, but I honestly have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system," Mejia said.
Though he opened the 2014 campaign in the rotation, Mejia was relegated to the bullpen in May, eventually assuming the closer's role in the absence of Bobby Parnell. Mejia, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011, notched 28 saves with a 3.65 ERA (96 ERA+) over 63 appearances last summer - his first full season in the majors - while managing a 24.3 percent strikeout rate out of the bullpen.
Mejia was slated to reprise his role in 2015, at least on an interim basis, but will now be forced to wait until July to make his season debut. His suspension will cost him $1,134,426 in missed wages while also making him ineligible for the Mets' postseason roster.
"I'm sorry to the Mets organization, my teammates and the fans, as well as my family," said Mejia.