OAKLAND, Calif. — A season full of All-Star potential for Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas was drastically cut short Friday when Major League Baseball suspended him 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Montas is 9-2 with a 2.70 E.R.A. in 15 starts, a big reason the A’s are 40-36.
A 26-year-old right-hander, Montas could return for the final week of the season. But the penalty makes him ineligible for the All-Star Game and postseason play this year, and he’ll lose about half of his $560,000 salary.
The commissioner’s office said Montas tested positive for Ostarine, a PED. He is the sixth player suspended this year under the major league drug program.
“While I never intended to take any prohibited substance, I unfortunately and unknowingly ingested a contaminated supplement that I had purchased over-the-counter at a nutrition store here in the United States,” Montas said in a statement released by the players’ union.
Montas said he accepted “full responsibility” for the penalty.
“I sincerely apologize to the A’s organization, the fans, my teammates and my family for this mistake. My hope is to be able to return to the A’s later this season and contribute as best I can,” he said.
In a statement, the A’s said they would “welcome Frankie back after the discipline has been served.”
Montas pitched eight innings of one-run ball on Thursday night. He got a no-decision in a game Oakland won 5-4 over Tampa Bay.
Montas allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked none. He struck out at least nine for the third straight start.
The A’s recalled right-hander J.B. Wendelken from Class AAA Las Vegas. The 26-year-old was on Oakland’s opening day roster and is 0-1 with a 5.57 E.R.A. in 18 games during his first season in the majors.