Some unfortunate news for the Cincinnati Reds today. Noelvi Marté tested positive for Boldenone and will be suspended without pay for 80 games. The 22-year-old debuted for Cincinnati only last year, so this suspension is a pressing time for the young infielder’s career. He will spend his year-anniversary with the Reds on suspension.
Noelvi Marté Tested Positive
The Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelvi Marté has received a suspension, the league announced Friday. Marté will have to sit out of the first 80 games of the regular season. He will be placed on the restricted list and not be paid during the suspension. Marté tested for the drug Boldenone which is a performance-enhancing substance.
The Reds provided this statement in response to Marté’s suspension: “The Reds fully support Major League Baseball’s drug policy and its penalties. We will have no further comment.”
Noelvi Marté’s Otherwise Impressive Beginnings
Reds infielder Noelvi Marte has been suspended 80 games for violating the PED policy. #Reds | @WLWT
— Olivia Ray (@OliviaRayTV) March 8, 2024
The right-hander debuted for the Reds in 2023 after being acquired in a trade in 2022. Up until the suspension, he had been an exciting prospect for this season’s play. He had received .279/.358/.454 playing for the minor leagues and was called up in August of last year. His first time in the major leagues ended with a score of hitting .316 and earned three home runs in 35 games. He was in Kiley McDaniel’s Top 100 prospects of the 2024 season at rank 35.
Because of his continuous success and impressive scores, Noelvi Marté was part of the top 50 prospects in MLB. He was close to securing himself as a permanent member of the Cincinnati Red’s roster. While the initial thought was of him being key to the Reds’ 2024 success, now Marté will have to twiddle his thumbs and wait out the 80 games.
What Can We Expect From The Reds
Though the Reds will have to do without Noelvi Marté for the first regular-season games, they aren’t without their choices of replacements. Other players that could take over on third base include Jeimer Candelario, the ambidextrous veteran third baseman from New York. He was signed to the Reds on a long-term contract just this past winter. Matt Mclain can also head into the infield, or even Elly De La Cruz could make up for the sudden loss. In any case, the young player group of the Reds will be working on their roster to fill the gap in hopes that this is Noelvi Marté first, and hopefully only, PED policy violation.
For More Great Sports Content
Total Apex Sports is an all-encompassing sports content producer. We provide heavily detailed articles every day on hockey, baseball, college sports, and so much more! Follow us @TotalApexSports on X. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL sports, click here! For more articles by Lyric Gardehart, click here!