Four pitching prospects suspended 50 games apiece for drugs

NEW YORK -- Four more players from the Dominican Summer League were each suspended 50 games on Thursday for testing positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs under Major League Baseball's minor league drug program.

The four players suspended were all pitchers, with Arturo Florentino, Carlos Galvez and Jose Tineo in the Chicago Cubs system; and Michael De La Cruz of the Texas Rangers. They tested positive for a metabolite of Boldenone, a steroid.

De La Cruz's suspension will begin immediately. The suspensions of Florentino, Galvez and Tineo will begin at the start of next season.

A total of 38 minor leaguers have received bans since July 25, including 30 from the Dominican Summer League.