The Unclear Basis of Cesar Carrillo’s 100-Game Suspension

On March 15, 2013, Major League Baseball announced a 100-game suspension for Cesar Carrillo, a pitcher in the Detroit Tigers’ minor-league system, for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The announcement gave no further details. Carrillo’s name had appeared in Biogenesis records that tied him to Anthony Bosch, but MLB did not publicly specify the evidence behind the penalty.

Carrillo, a University of Miami product, had pitched for Double-A Erie the previous season. His suspension drew wider attention because MLB was investigating Biogenesis, whose records also contained the names of major-league players. But minor-league and major-league discipline operated separately, and Carrillo’s punishment did not establish what would happen to those players.

Early reports differed over the basis for the suspension. CBS Sports said it was unclear whether Carrillo had been disciplined because of findings involving Biogenesis or because he had failed a drug test. Call To The Pen, citing Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, reported that sources said the decision was based solely on the Biogenesis report. Neither account established that Carrillo had used or received a particular drug.

On March 22, USA TODAY reported that Carrillo had received 50 games for appearing in the records and 50 for being uncooperative after speaking with baseball investigators. By then, MLB had filed a civil lawsuit against six Biogenesis and Biokem employees and associates, including Bosch, alleging that the clinics had provided performance-enhancing drugs to players. Those allegations did not constitute a criminal finding against Carrillo or establish that he had received any particular substance.

The 100-game penalty was public. Its reported components emerged later, but MLB’s announcement itself did not explain the evidence supporting them.