Minor leaguer Burriss receives 50-game suspension

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

April 04, 2017, 1:28pm

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The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that eight minor league players have been suspended following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, including Nationals minor league second baseman Emmanuel Burriss.

Burriss received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse. He is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League according to the Major League Baseball release. Burriss was not listed when the Chiefs made the opening day roster public today.

Burriss played in five games for the Nationals in 2015. Last season he got into 39 games with the Phillies before being designated for assignment June 1. The 32-year-old enjoyed a handful of games over the years in the majors, mostly with the Giants.

The D.C. native was in the Nationals spring training in 2014, 2015 and this season. This spring training he hit .241 in 18 games with two doubles, two RBIs and a stolen base in West Palm Beach.

The suspension will be effective starting Thursday, April 6 when Syracuse takes on Rochester.