CHICAGO — A second Orioles minor-league catcher has been suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Progam.
Michael Ohlman received a 50-game suspension for his second violation of the drug policy, the office of the commissioner of baseball announced Tuesday. The suspension was for a drug of abuse, which means it was not for use of a performance-enhancing drug.
This spring, catcher Brian Ward also received a 50-game suspension.
Ohlman's suspension will begin immediately, but he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during an automobile accident during spring training. He is on the roster at Single-A Delmarva.
Because he was from nearby Bradenton, Ohlman joined the Orioles' big-league spring training camp in Sarasota when non-roster invitee Ronny Paulino was held up with visa issues.
He was an 11th-round pick of the Orioles out of Lakewood Ranch (Fa.) High School, but received a $995,000 signing bonus that was much higher than the slotted bonus.
He is coming of a season at Delmarva in which he put up a .224/.320/.307 line with four homers and 51 RBIs. He's never been above 15th on the Orioles' Baseball America prospects list.
