Major League Baseball announced that pitcher David Rollins, who the Mariners acquired from the Astros in the Rule 5 draft in December, has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug - stanozolol.
David Rollins’ opportunity to make the Seattle Mariners opening-day roster ended Friday.
It wasn’t because of a decision made by the Mariners, or because poor performances this spring. Rollins appeared to be the favorite to win the second left-handed reliever spot in the Seattle bullpen. But a regrettable decision in the offseason crushed those hopes.
Major League Baseball announced that Rollins, who the Mariners acquired from the Astros in the Rule 5 draft in December, has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug – stanozolol. Rollins was notified of the positive test and suspension a few days ago. Rollins will accept the suspension and not appeal.
“It was a mistake on my part,” he said. “It was very bad judgment, and I’ve been regretting it ever since. It’s been tough for me and my family. I just want to apologize to my fans, my family, the Seattle organization and everyone I’ve disappointed. I don’t want to come off as a wrong person and be labeled as a cheater. It wasn’t like that at all. I deeply regret what I did.”
The reasoning for the poor decision?
“It was when I got back from winter ball and I was sore and I was trying to speed up my recovery,” he said. “It was bad, bad judgment.”
Rollins knew he had a chance to making the team with how well he was pitching this spring.
“It’s tough,” he said. “I’ve thought about it. It’s been heavy on my heart. It hasn’t been easy the past couple of days. I’m just glad I got the opportunity to show them that I can compete. But I made one bad decision and it’s costing me.”
Rollins informed general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon after he was notified.
“That was very hard,” he said.
Zduriencik was caught off guard by the news
“Yeah, it’s a shock,” he said. “I’m disappointed in David. It was an error in judgement. The young man made mistake. He’s not the first, and he probably won’t be the last. It’s unfortunate. He was in a good position with how he was pitching and where he was at with the ball club. But now you just have to recalculate. We’ll stand by him and walk him through this. There’s a lot yet to be determined with his Rule 5 status and how that all plays out. We don’t have all the answers right now.”
Zduriencik has said that based on what he’s been told from MLB, Rollins will be removed from the 40-man roster and placed on the suspended list and remain the Mariners property for the duration of the suspension. Rollins will remain in Peoria and work out at the Mariners’ facility. He will be able to participate in extended spring training games, but no official minor league games.