Former first-rounder Collier suspended 50 games
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Former first-rounder Collier suspended 50 games
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MILWAUKEE -- Zach Collier, the Phillies' first-round pick in 2008, was suspended 50 games Thursday by Major League Baseball for testing positive for amphetamine. The suspension is effective at the start of next season.
Collier turned 21 on the day he received a dose of discouraging news. He was selected 34th overall in 2008 and missed all of the 2010 season due to a litany of injuries. He played at single-A Lakewood this season and hit .255 with one home run and 36 RBIs.
"I'm loving it right now," Collier told The Inquirer in May. "I'm really enjoying and appreciating the game. I feel like a different player than I was before.
Collier described his 2010 as a disturbing time.
"It was a dark place," Collier told The Inquirer. "I was real depressed. I was hurt and I felt pressure because I thought I should be playing. I had surgery for the hamate bone before spring training, then I hurt my wrist and then I pulled my quad three times."
The suspension of Collier is the sixth performance-enhancing drug ban imposed by MLB on the Phillies this season, the most in baseball.
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"I'm loving it right now," Collier told The Inquirer in May. "I feel like a different player than I was before."
At least now we know why.
— PhightinPhil
Comment removed.- The Phillies are filled with drugs. It's the secret of the self-proclaimed "hitting guru".— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- And speaking of drugs, I see where "Pop-Up" Jimmie is back.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- At least he did a legit old school drug. Not HGH, or steroids.— road515
- What, is this one of Chuck Lamar's guys? Bring back Ed Wade.— road515
I wonder if "Doc" Halladay has a little bit of Dock Ellis in him sometimes?— Leegles- So, who are the 7 players??what kind of lead-in story is this;we all know Romero was one but others?— thechief
- 3 players in the Domincan Summer League: San Lazaro Solano, Marcos Coca, and Daniel DelaCruz.
1 AAA retread: Kevin Frandsen
1 Rookie league non prospect: Ryan Sasaki
and 1 actual prospect: Zach Collier— Chewy59 - great job, probably hasnt spent an honest day in his life— tooltime
- @thechief -> hey chief, check your reading skills and math. It says "sixth this season". If Collier was one of six, then you only have to concern all your waking hours wondering about 5 others, not 7. btw, Romero was LAST season. Now step back, take a deep breath, and report back to us when you get some answers, dammit!— HokieMon
- Collier is one of the many deerlike outfielders roaming the outfields of the minor league teams...real fast,no hit...guess he's trying to add some power?— bearsfriend
- You don't know what amphetamines are... do you? — Chewy59
- why don't you enlighten me? do you know what he took? No, you don't...Frandsen is a better player than Collier will ever be. — bearsfriend
- the other PED users are minor leaguers. There are stories here at Philly.com from time to time.— road515
