Niles West graduate Kevin Ross was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization less than two months after receiving a suspension from the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, the Pirates Prospects website reported.
Ross, an eighth-round pick out of high school in 2012, was suspended for 50 games without pay on Jan. 28 after his second positive test for a drug of abuse.
More Top Picks Best Smartwatches For Swimmers
Ross played first base and third base with the Jamestown Jammers in 2014 and was named an all-star in the New York-Penn League. He finished the season batting .265 with a .281 on-base percentage and a .352 slugging percentage in 44 games. Ross finished with 11 doubles, one home run and 24 RBIs.
In three seasons, Ross only played in 70 games. He saw action in 5 games in 2013 and was on the minor league restricted list for an unspecified reason most of the season, according to Saturday’s story on Pirates Prospects.
The site reports that Ross can’t begin to serve his suspension until he signs with another team.
According to MiLB.com, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and other opiates are deemed drugs of abuse by Major League Baseball.
Twitter: @Ryan_Nilsson