Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz became the latest player suspended by Major League baseball on Tuesday after testing positive for an amphetamine.
Ruiz became the eighth player suspended this year and he will miss the first 25 games of the 2013 season. According to USA Today, he will be able to return to the lineup against the New York Mets on April 28th on the road at Citi Field.
"I am sincerely regretful for my mistake in taking a prohibited stimulant," Ruiz said in a statement issued by the Major League Baseball Players Association, according to the Associated Press. "I apologize to my teammates, the Phillies organization and the Philadelphia fans. I will serve the imposed 25-game suspension to begin the season and I look forward to returning to the field and working toward bringing a championship back to Philadelphia in 2013."
Philly.com reported on Tuesday that Ruiz was suspended for using the drug Adderall, which can be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to the website, "He will forfeit roughly $750,000 in salary during the suspension."
The NFL has had numerous issues with Adderall this season as well, with numerous players being suspended for using the drug. Just recently, Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner were suspended for testing positive for the drug, as was Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright.
According to USA Today, "The Phillies exercised a $5 million club option on Ruiz in October. He will be a free agent after 2013."
Ruiz was an All-Star this season and put up career-best numbers, hitting .325 with 68 RBIs and 16 home runs. He had only 50 strikeouts and added 32 doubles, 121 hits and 56 runs scored.
According to CrashBurnAlley.com, " In 114 games, Ruiz was the third-most valuable catcher in baseball in 2012 according to both FanGraphs WAR (5.5) and Baseball Reference WAR (4.4)."
He hit .350 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs before the All-Star break, but only hit .270 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in just 115 at-bats following the break.
According to the Associated Press, "Ruiz will be eligible to participate in spring training, including exhibition games."
"The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball's drug program," the team said. "We are disappointed by the news of this violation of the program. We will support Carlos in an appropriate manner and move forward to achieve our goal to play championship-caliber baseball in 2013."
According to Yahoo Sports and Philadelphia Inquirer writer Matt Gelb, Ruiz was suspended because he tested positive twice:
"Under MLB's program, Ruiz was subject to six unannounced follow-up tests over the 12 months after the initial violation, in addition to the standard random testing. A first positive test for a stimulant, unlike steroids, does not result in suspension. Instead, the increased testing is implemented. Ruiz would be suspended for 80 games should a third positive test emerge."
The 33-year-old won a World Series with the Phillies in 2008 and has a career batting of average of .275, with 299 RBIs, 616 hits and 52 home runs in six seasons.
According to the Associated Press, Erik Kratz will likely start for the team on opening day in 2013. During the 2012 season he hit .248 in 50 games while Ruiz was out with a foot injury. He also has 26 RBIs, nine home runs, 34 strikeouts and 14 runs scored.
Other possible replacements include Brian Schneider, who served as a backup last season, and minor league prospect Sebastian Valle. Humberto Quintero also signed a minor league contract and could be another option at catcher.
According to the New York Daily News, "Ruiz became the eighth player suspended this year under the major league testing program, the second for amphetamines following Baltimore shortstop Ryan Adams. The eight suspensions are the most since 2007. There have been 102 suspensions under the minor league testing program."
As a rookie in 2006, Ruiz hit .261 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in just 27 games, but won the starting job the next season. He decreased in batting average over the next three years, but improved to hit .302 in 2010 along with eight home runs and 53 RBIs.
In 2008 when the team won the World Series, Ruiz hit .261 with one home run and four RBIs in the playoffs. The following season when the Phillies made it back to the World Series against the Yankees, Ruiz hit much better in a losing effort, hitting .341 with two home runs, nine RBIs and 12 walks.
Last season the Phillies went only 81-81 and finished in third place in the National League East. The team dealt with injuries to star players Ryan Howard and Chase Utley and struggled to score runs, ranking 19th in the league in offense.
Philadelphia had previously won the past five NL East division titles and although they played well later in August, the Phillies finished 17 games behind the MLB-best Washington Nationals.
