Brave prospect's juicing earns 50 games off: Jordan Schafer

The Mississippi Clarion-Ledger tells us about how one of the Atlanta Braves top prospects will be sitting out 50 games this year because he admitted to HGH use.  (Babes Love Baseball too)

Mississippi Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer was suspended for 50 games Tuesday by the baseball commissioner’s office, which said he used human growth hormone in violation of the sport’s minor league drug program.

Schafer, 21, was scheduled to make his Trustmark Park debut Wednesday with the M-Braves.

Instead, the player rated by Baseball America as one of the top prospects in the Atlanta Braves’ farm system will sit out for nearly two months. The first game Schafer will be eligible to play in would be the M-Braves’ May 31 home game against the Birmingham Barons.

Schafer hit .091 (1-for-11) in the Braves’ first five Southern League games.

He batted .312 at Class A last year with 15 homers and 63 RBIs for Rome of the South Atlantic League and Myrtle Beach of the Carolina League.

Interesting that Schafer admitted to HGH use.  This would constitute a 'non analytic positive' because there is no current blood test for HGH use in MLB.  The Braves organization commented on the situation:

“We are extremely disappointed that Jordan has violated the commissioner’s Performance Enhancing Drug Policy,” said Braves general manager Frank Wren in a statement released by the team. “We are supportive of the program and will continue to educate all of our players.

“Earlier today Jordan asked to speak to his teammates to apologize for the mistakes he has made and for letting the organization and his team down. During his suspension, we will continue to support and counsel Jordan.”

Schafer became the fourth player suspended this year under the minor league program, following St. Louis pitcher Scott Vander Weg (positive test), Kansas City Royals pitcher Jacob Rodriguez (failure to test) and Chicago Cubs pitcher Robert Hernandez (positive test).

There were 30 suspensions last year under the minor league program and eight under the major league plan.

Schafer became a very good prospect last year; looks like he will be chilling for a few months this summer.

After two lackluster seasons to begin his professional career, Jordan Schafer had a breakout campaign in 2007. In 136 games split between Class A Rome and Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach, the 21-year-old outfielder hit .312 with 86 runs scored, 15 home runs, and 23 stolen bases. Now, amidst the top-flight competition of the Arizona Fall League, he is excelling at an even higher level.