Say It Aint So, Lambo

Highly touted Dodger prospect and formerly ranked #1 man in the minors coming into the 2009 season, Andrew Lambo, has been suspended. It appears it was not for steroids, but is for a "drug of abuse" (i.e. including but not limited to marijuana, cocaine, heroin and LSD).

This is very unfortunate. He was having a great start to 2010 after a rocky 2009. He was batting .342 with a OPS of .956 in 19 games in AA. See his stats here at Baseball-Reference. He was drafted out of high school in 2007 in the 4th round, but should have gone higher. Teams had questions about some character issues that included being caught smoking marijuana as a high school sophomore.

Below is a Dodger press release sent this afternoon.

LOS ANGELES – Below is the Dodger organization’s response to the 50-game suspension of minor league outfielder Andrew Lambo for testing positive for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

“The Dodgers are disappointed to learn of this news and we fully support Major League Baseball’s drug policy and its penalties. The organization does not condone the use of any substance not sanctioned by MLB’s medical staff.”