Seattle Mariners shortstop Tim Beckham has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, but the veteran insists he was unaware that he ingested a banned substance.
Shortly after MLB announced his suspension, Beckham released a statement saying the positive test stemmed from a “tainted” product that he was given by a trusted source who told him it was legal. He said he accepts the punishment after going through the appeals process and apologized to the Mariners, his family and fans.
Statement from former #Rays INF Tim Beckham, claiming he took a “tainted” product: pic.twitter.com/mV6ealrIH7
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 6, 2019
Beckham was one of the feel-good stories of the season early on when he jumped out to a hot start, as the former No. 1 overall pick’s professional career has laregely been a disappointment. He has a career .250 average and is batting .237 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI this year. Beckham’s best season came in 2017, when he batted .278 with 22 homers and 62 RBI in time split between the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. The Rays are the team that drafted Beckham first overall back in 2008.
Beckham will now miss the remainder of the season, and there’s no guarantee he will find work next year. He signed a one-year deal with the Mariners last winter.
