Reigning NL batting champ suspended 80 games for PEDs
LOS ANGELES -- Reigning NL batting champion Dee Gordon of the Miami Marlins was suspended 80 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, Major League Baseball said soon after he got a key hit Thursday night in a win at Dodger Stadium.
Gordon was not available for comment after the startling late-night announcement.
The 28-year-old Gordon led the majors in hits and stolen bases last year. He batted .333, became an All-Star for the second time and won a Gold Glove at second base.
The big season helped him earn a $50 million, five-year contract he signed in January. Yahoo!'s Jeff Passan estimates that Gordon will lose $1.63 million in salary over the course of his 80-game suspension.
MLB said he tested positive for exogenous Testosterone and Clostebol.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly managed Gordon during his first three big league seasons in Los Angeles before he was traded to Miami in a seven-player deal in December 2014. Mattingly took over as Marlins manager prior to this season.
"These guys love Dee, and we're going to support him," Mattingly said. "I feel like Dee's one of my kids, to be honest with you, because I've known him so long. So we're going to love him, and then we're going to support him. He's been a big part of the success that we've had."
The fleet-footed Gordon is the son of former All-Star pitcher Tom Gordon. Shortly before the penalty was announced, Gordon hit an RBI single in the seventh inning and scored after forcing a balk as the Marlins rallied for a 5-3 win and a four-game sweep over Los Angeles.
Gordon became the seventh player to be suspended this year under the MLB drug plan. Last week, Toronto slugger Chris Colabello was penalized 80 games after testing positive for a PED.
Miami President David Samson said the Marlins "completely support the drug prevention program in every way.
"Dee Gordon is a very important part of our team, and we all love him and support him," Samson said. "That said, I don't like or condone what he did.
"He will be back 80 games from now, and he will be welcomed back to this organization," he added. "But in the interim period, we expect him, and we are positive that he will do everything that's necessary to make it up to his fans, to his teammates and to this organization."
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers -- who were just swept by the Marlins -- were not happy that Gordon was allowed to play: