FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox have taken considerable pride in the fact that only one player in their minor league system has ever tested positive for using performance enhancing substances. That was relief pitcher Felix Romero, who was suspended 15 games for testing positive while playing for the Wilmington (N.C.) Blue Rocks in 2005. Romero spent last season with the San Francisco Giants.
Tuesday, a second player in the Red Sox's organization was suspended after testing positive for a PED, Major League Baseball announced.
William Abreu, a pitcher who is listed on the roster of the team's Dominican Summer League entry, was suspended 50 games after testing positive for Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid also known as Deca-Durabolin. Abreu's suspension will be effective at the start of the 2011 season.
"We fully support MLB's testing program and will continue to educate our players on the risks associated with PEDs," Ben Cherington, the team's senior vice president and assistant general manager, wrote in an e-mail.
Free agent pitcher Joseph Carpabire was also suspended Tuesday for 50 games following a positive test under the minor league drug program. Carpabire tested positive for metabolites of Nandrolone and Stanozolol.
Seven players have been suspended this year under the minor league program.
Gordon Edes covers the Red Sox for ESPNBoston.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.