Montana DuRapau suspended for 50 games

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost one of their top reliever prospects to a 50-game suspension on Friday

Right-handed pitcher Montana DuRapau seemed prime to make his Major League debut at some point in 2018. However, those plans may now have been derailed.

On Friday, Montana DuRapau was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball. The suspension is due to DuRapau violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy for the second time.

As Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review points out, his failed drug test was not due to PEDs.

In 2017 Montana DuRapau pitched for both Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. For the Curve, he averaged 3.47 BB/9 and 9.66 K/9 in 36 1/3 innings pitched. He did not allow a home run and owned a 1.49 ERA and a 2.32 FIP for the Curve.

After arriving at Triple-A, DuRapau pitched 16 2/3 innings for the Indianapolis Indians. He allowed a pair of home runs, he averaged 3.24 BB/9 and 12.42 K/9, and he posted a 3.24 ERA and a 3.22 FIP.

Montana DuRapau also pitched in the International League playoffs for the Indians in 2017. He pitched in two of their four postseason games, allowing one run on a hit, two walks, and two strikeouts in two innings pitched.

While DuRapau was slated to start the 2018 season back at Triple-A, he was in a great position to make his Major League debut in 2018. He had steadily worked his way up the Pirate minor leauge ladder and after producing strong results at each level at finally reached Triple-A. Combine this with how much turnover a Major League bullpen sees during a season and DuRapau was on his way to debuting in 2018.

Due to this suspension, however, that may change. Not only will missing 50 games put him behind the eight ball, he also would not be the first player to not earn their first Major League call-up as a punishment from the Pirates. See one Dovydas Neverauskas who was slated to earn a September call-up in 2016 before getting into a bar fight.

Next: Looking at Colin Moran

Montana DuRapau’s suspension will start when Triple-A Indianapolis begins their season on April 6 against the Columbus Clippers.