Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that Phillies minor league pitcher Alec Asher has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance enhancing drug.
Asher was on the disabled list with a lower calf contusion after being hit in the leg with a batted ball for Triple-A Lehigh Valley last month. The 24-year-old posted a 4-2 record with a 2.30 ERA and a .193 batting average against in eight minor league starts this season after opening the 2016 campaign with Double-A Reading.
After he was acquired from Texas as part of the Cole Hamels trade last season, Asher tallied a 0-6 record with a 9.31 ERA in seven big league starts.
Asher is the second Phillies player busted for this substance in 2016. Rule 5 acquisition and lefty pitcher Daniel Stumpf was suspended earlier this season after appearing in three games for the Phils.
Also of note from the farm...
CF prospect Roman Quinn hit the disabled list for AA Reading on Thursday with an oblique strain. The 23-year-old switch-hitter had been batting .288 with three home runs, 16 RBI and 25 steals in 50 games this season. He had just returned after missing eight days with a hamstring strain and has missed time in previous seasons with significant injuries such as a ruptured Achiles tendon as well as a hip tear.
Quinn was the Phillies' second round draft pick in 2011.
