NEW YORK -- St. Louis Cardinals draft pick Griffin Roberts has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse.
Major League Baseball announced the ban Friday.
Roberts is a right-handed reliever who was selected 43rd overall out of Wake Forest this year. He pitched for Class A Palm Beach after signing for $1,664,200 and had been expected to move quickly through the minor leagues.
This was Roberts' second violation for a drug of abuse, and he will not be paid during the suspension.
In a tweet, he said the latest positive test was for cannabis.
"I'd like to apologize to the St. Louis Cardinals Organization and fans for violating MiLB's drug testing policy for cannabis," he said. "I've taken full responsibility for my lack of compliance and have accepted my 50 game suspension. My focus now is to get back on the field and compete."
Four other minor leaguers were also suspended for 50 games Friday: Boston Red Sox pitcher Francisco Lopez-Soto, New York Yankees pitcher Alex Mauricio, Cincinnati Reds catcher Hunter Oliver and Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Woolfolk.
Lopez-Soto and Mauricio were banned for drugs of abuse, and Oliver and Woolfolk tested positive for the stimulant amphetamine. None of those players has played beyond Class A.