Former Phillies prospect Jonathan Singleton suspended 50 games
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Major League Baseball suspended former Phillies farmhand Jonathan Singleton, currently in the Houston Astros organization, 50 games for violating the minor league drug policy.
The first baseman was part of a package, which included pitcher Jarred Cosart, pitcher Josh Zeid and outfielder Domingo Santana, that landed rightfielder Hunter Pence in Philadelphia. Baseball America rated Singleton as the Astros' second best prospect, after hitting .284 with 21 home runs and 79 RBIs in 131 games in 2012.
MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reported that the 50-game suspension indicates the second positive test in Singleton's career. It is unclear whether Singleton's first positive test occurred while he was a member of the Phillies or Astros organization.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick obtained Singleton's apology:
Singleton issued an apology Wednesday through his agents, Adam Karon and Matt Sosnick of Sosnick Cobbe Sports. Major League Baseball did not disclose when Singleton's first violation took place.
"I was informed today that I have tested positive for marijuana," Singleton said in the statement. "As a result, I am being suspended for the first 50 games of the 2013 season. I accept the penalty and take full responsibility for my actions. I apologize to my parents, the Houston Astros and [general manager] Jeff Luhnow.
"The Astros have been nothing but supportive of me and good to me in my short time with the organization. My hope is to use this as a learning experience and spend the rest of my career proving to myself and the baseball community that this was a lapse in judgment, and is not in any way indicative of my character or my dedication to baseball or to my team."
