South Boston native suspended after violating drug policy

Milwaukee Brewers minor league pitcher and South Boston native Jeremy Jeffress received a 100-game suspension Monday for violating the minor league drug prevention and treatment program for a “drug of abuse” for the second time. The suspension will carry 25 games into next season.

The former Halifax County High standout, the 16th overall selection in the 2006 amateur draft, is one failed drug test away from a permanent ban from baseball. The righty, considered the top pitching prospect in the Brewers farm system, was previously suspended for 50 games toward the end of the 2007 season, after which he admitted to testing positive for marijuana. He was also previously disciplined by the Brewers, but not suspended, for failing a team-administered drug test.

Jeffress was 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA and racked up 36 strikeouts in 33 innings with the Class A advanced Brevard County (Fla.) Manatees this season. He started the season at Class AA Huntsville but was demoted after posting a 1-3 record and a 7.57 ERA in 27 1-3 innings.

“All I’ll say is it was not a performance-enhancing drug,” Jeffress’ agent, Josh Kusnick, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about Jeffress’ latest suspension. “We all know the issue Jeremy has had in the past. He obviously has a very sensitive issue he has to overcome.”

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