MLB bans Reds' Noelvi Marte 80 games for PED use

Field Level Media|published: 03/08/2024, 5:54pm EST

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Noelvi Marte (16) smiles while waiting for his turn to take batting practice during spring training workouts, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at the team s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz. credits: Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelvi Marte, a top prospect, will miss almost half the season after Major League Baseball on Friday announced an 80-game suspension without pay because of a positive test for Boldenone.

Use of the performance-enhancing substance violates the MLB Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Marte's ban begins with Opening Day.

"The Reds fully support Major League Baseball's drug policy and its penalties," the team said in a statement. "We will have no further comment."

The 22-year-old standout, among MLB's top 100 prospects according to most scouting services, played 35 games last season for the Reds, batting .316 with three home runs.

The Seattle Mariners signed Marte out of the Dominican Republic and traded him to Cincinnati in the 2022 trade that brought the Mariners right-handed ace Luis Castillo.

Marte carried a slash line of .279/.358/.454 last season in the minors.

After his August call-up, Marte played 29 games (26 starts) at third base, four at shortstop and one at second base.

—Field Level Media