Orelvis Martinez, a top infield prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays, has been suspended for 80 games after violating Major League Baseball’s performance-enhancing drug policy. This suspension came just two days after his major league debut, where he played second base and went 1-for-3. The 22-year-old Martinez tested positive for clomiphene, a fertility drug that is on MLB’s banned substances list. This development is a significant setback for a player widely regarded as one of the Blue Jays’ most promising talents.
Martinez explained in a statement that he had been trying to start a family with his girlfriend and had visited a fertility clinic in his native Dominican Republic. There, he was prescribed Rejun 50, a clomiphene tablet, without being informed that it was considered a banned substance in baseball. He admitted to making the mistake of not disclosing this treatment to his team or the MLB Players Association, taking full responsibility for the oversight and accepting the suspension.
Before his call-up to the majors, Martinez had a stellar minor league career, particularly in power hitting. He had hit 102 home runs and driven in 303 runs since the start of the 2021 season. Martinez’s impressive performance in the minors made him one of the top prospects for the Blue Jays. Prior to his big league debut, he had hit 16 home runs in 63 games at Triple-A. His performance and potential were seen as a bright future for the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays’ general manager Ross Atkins expressed disappointment and surprise over the suspension but reiterated the team’s support for Martinez. Atkins emphasized the importance of the player learning from this experience. Martinez’s manager, John Schneider, also expressed understanding, noting that Martinez was upset and disappointed by the situation but was taking responsibility for his actions. Despite the setback, the team is committed to supporting Martinez during this process.
As a result of the suspension, Martinez will lose a significant portion of his salary, as his contract stipulates $740,000 in the majors and $120,600 in the minors. He will be eligible to return to the team for the final six games of the regular season but will miss any postseason games this year. His suspension marks the second such case under the major league drug program in 2024, with 22-year-old Noelvi Marte also receiving an 80-game suspension earlier in the season.
