Yankees' minor leaguer suspended

Thursday, December 14th 2006, 11:44 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ New York Yankees pitching prospect Hector Noesi was suspended Thursday for the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance under baseball's minor league drug program.

The Dominican right-hander, who turns 20 on Jan. 26, pitched in five games last season for the Gulf Coast League Yankees from July 31 to Aug. 18. He was 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA and one save, striking out 11 in seven innings.

Noesi received the 40th suspension this year under baseball's drug program. Only three of the suspensions were for violations of the major league plan: New York Mets pitchers Guillermo Mota and Yasuko Iriki, and pitcher Jason Grimsley, who was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.