MLB News: New York Mets’ L.J. Mazzilli Suspended 50 Games For Failing Drug Test

New York Mets’ second base prospect L.J. Mazzillli has been suspended for 50 games by the Major League Baseball (MLB) after failing a second test on a “drug of abuse”, the league announced on Tuesday. The 24-year-old tested positive of the unnamed drug, a clear violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment program.

"Unfortunately, in life, you cannot go back on a bad decision that was made, and in my case, one that I very much regret," Mazzilli said via Mets.com. "After everything my loved ones, supporters, and the N.Y. Mets have given me, especially an opportunity to chase my childhood dream, I couldn't be more ashamed and sorry."

L.J. Mazzilli is the son of Lee Mazzilli, who is a former player, coach and manager for various MLB squads. The elder Mazilli, whose most recent MLB stints were as coach for the Baltimore Orioles from 2004 to 2005 and manager for the New York Yankees in 2006, stated that he was “disappointed and hurt” about the entire situation but that the family will continue to support their son.

"There is nothing politically correct that I could say that can soften the blow, my son made a mistake," Mazzilli said in the press release. "Just like any other parent out there we are disappointed and hurt when our children make bad decisions. However, we are proud of our son for seeking professional help on his own. The only thing now that we can do as a family is love him, support him, and have faith as we've always done.”

The younger Mazzili played college baseball for the Connecticut Huskies and was selected in the ninth round of the 2012 MLB Draft but refused to sign a contract with the Minnesota Twins and returned to college. In the 2013 MLB Draft, he was picked in the fourth round by the New York Mets, where he signed and was sent to the minors.