Twins' Henry Sanchez suspended for drug abuse

04/24/2009 5:34 PM ET
Twins' Sanchez suspended for drug abuse
Commissioner hands out 50-game suspension for violation
Major League Baseball

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Minnesota Twins Minor League first baseman Henry Sanchez has received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension of Sanchez is effective immediately.

Sanchez was the Twins' first-round sandwich pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft and has spent most of his five seasons with Class A Beloit and the Gulf Coast League Twins.

Sanchez, a 22-year-old San Diego State product, is batting .231 with three runs scored in four games with the Snappers this season.

He had left hand surgery in 2006 and missed parts of the following season with hand numbness.

Sanchez suffered a right knee sprain in 2007 and was limited to just seven games last summer, where he batted .050 with a double for the GCL Twins.