D-Backs' Sadler Suspended After Positive Drug Test

NEW YORK (AP) _ Arizona infielder Donnie Sadler was suspended for 50 games Saturday after testing positive for a drug of abuse under baseball's minor league program. <br/><br/>The 32-year-old has played

Saturday, July 28th 2007, 4:52 pm

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Arizona infielder Donnie Sadler was suspended for 50 games Saturday after testing positive for a drug of abuse under baseball's minor league program.

The 32-year-old has played for Boston, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Texas and Arizona in eight major league seasons. He was 0-for-1 this season with the Diamondbacks, who brought him up from Triple-A Tucson of the Pacific Coast on May 11, then designated him for assignment six days later and sent him back to the minors.

His ninth-inning flyout against the Astros' Chad Qualls at Houston on May 12 was his first major league plate appearance since 2004, when he had 23 at-bats for Arizona.

He is batting .214 in 52 games and 112 at-bats for Tucson this year with two homers and 17 RBIs. Sadler has a .202 career major league average with six homers, 46 RBIs and 25 steals in 418 games.

Sadler became the 20th player suspended this year under baseball's minor league program, the sixth for a drug of abuse. Two players have been suspended under the major league program: Tampa Bay pitcher Juan Salas (performance-enhancing substance) and Detroit infielder Neifi Perez (stimulant).