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Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco suspended 80 games for steroids

Credit: Butch Dill, USA TODAY Sports
Jorge Polanco, 24, played a key role in the Twins postseason appearance.

With aspirations of returning to the postseason, the Minnesota Twins were hit with a devastating blow just weeks before opening day.

Starting shortstop Jorge Polanco, who had a breakout second half of the season in 2017, was suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance, Major League Baseball announced Sunday.

"Today, I have regretfully accepted my 80-game suspension for testing positive for Stanozolol," said Polanco in a written statement. "To be clear, I did not intentionally consume this steroid. I now know, however, that my intention alone is not a good enough excuse and I will pay the price for my error in judgment. The substance that I requested from my athletic trainer in the Dominican Republic and consented to take was a combination of vitamin B12 and an iron supplement, something that is not unusual or illegal for professional athletes to take. Unfortunately, what I was given was not that supplement and I take full responsibility for what is in my body."

Polanco, 24, played a key role in the Twins postseason appearance last year, posting a .256/.313/.410 slash line with 13 home runs in 133 games. He finished especially strong, hitting .293 with 10 home runs in 63 games after the All-Star break.

“We were disappointed to learn of the suspension of Jorge Polanco for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the Twins said in a statement. “We fully support Major League Baseball’s policy and its efforts to eliminate performance enhancing substances from our game. Per the protocol outlined in the Joint Drug Program, the Minnesota Twins will not comment further on this matter.”

It’s the second time in three seasons a key Twins has been suspended for 80 games. Starting pitcher Ervin Santana was suspended in 2015.

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