Colorado Rockies fans received some unpleasant news Tuesday as Troy Renck of The Denver Post reported that minor league reliever Joe Torres had received a 50-game suspension for a reported infringement on the league's anti-performance-enhancing substance policy:
Rockies minor league lhp Joe Torres has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance
— Troy Renck, Rockies (@TroyRenck) February 21, 2012
Torres pitched for Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2011, putting together a combined 2.24 ERA. The 11-year minor league veteran had reached Triple-A for the first time in his minor league career in 2011. He sports a 4.51 career ERA in minors, and originally began as a starting pitcher after being selected in the MLB draft out of high school in the 1st round by the Los Angeles Angels (then the Anaheim Angels) in 2000.
For more coverage of all things Denver sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage of the Rockies, visit Purple Row. For more updates throughout Spring Training, check out Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.