Phillies' Watson suspended 50 games

NEW YORK -- Pitcher Shane Watson, a 2012 Phillies first-round Draft pick, was suspended 50 games on Friday after testing positive for a banned substance.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Watson, a 21-year-old right-hander, received a 50-game ban without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension is effective at the start of the 2015 season. 

Watson, the 40th overall selection in 2012 out of Lakewood (California) High School, did not appear in a Minor League game in 2014. He debuted in 2012, appearing in five Rookie-level games before going 4-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 16 starts for Class A Lakewood in 2013. He was ranked by MLB.com as the Phillies' No. 13 prospect entering the 2013 season, when he struck out 53 over 72 innings before spending this year on the disabled list.

Players are typically issued a warning following a first positive test for a drug of abuse and a suspension for a second offense. Substances considered drugs of abuse by Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program include cocaine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and other opiates. Minor Leaguers who test positive for a performance-enhancing substance are subject to an immediate 50-game suspension.

The Commissioner's Office has suspended 52 players this year for violating the Minor League drug program.