Astros prospect Matijevic banned 50 games for drug of abuse

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NEW YORK (AP) — Houston Astros third base prospect J.J. Matijevic has been suspended for 50 games under baseball's minor league drug program following a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

Selected by Houston with the 75th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 amateur draft, the 23-year-old was hitting .240 with two homers, seven RBIs and 29 strikeouts in 75 at-bats this year in 19 games for Double-A Corpus Christi of the Texas League.

His suspension was announced Tuesday by the commissioner's office.

There have been 18 players suspended this year under the minor league program, plus Boston pitcher Steven Wright, Kansas City pitcher Eric Skoglund and Houston pitcher Francis Martes under the major league program.