Jays' prospect Pannone tests positive for DHCMT, suspended for 80 games
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect Thomas Pannone has been suspended for 80 games. Photo Credit: Jay Blue
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
A bombshell came from out of the blue on Friday evening as MLB announced that Blue Jays' minor league pitcher, Thomas Pannone, tested positive for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT) and will be suspended for 80 games once the season begins.
Pannone was drafted in the ninth round in 2013 by the Cleveland Indians and he has steadily risen through the ranks since. Pannone came to Toronto along with minor league infielder Samad Taylor as part of the deal that sent reliever Joe Smith to the Indians on July 31, 2017. Pitching in class-A Advanced and double-A in 2017, he had some success (as he did in A-ball in 2016) with a 2.36 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, striking out 149 batters in 144 2/3 innings, walking only 36.
Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone is the same substance that Chris Colabello tested positive for in 2016. Like Colabello, Pannone is flummoxed as to how the substance got into him. He released the following statement.
Additionally, when reached for comment, Blue Jays' GM Ross Atkins said the following:
This situation is difficult for Pannone, but not insurmountable. Having interviewed him and seeing the response his statement is getting from his teammates, I have no reason to believe that he can't return later this season to the mound. Particularly important is the statement made by Atkins on behalf of the Blue Jays standing by him.
This will shake up the projected pitching staff to start the year in triple-A Buffalo but Pannone should be able to at least get back to double-A, if not move to triple-A, in the back half of the season.
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