Nats minor leaguer Josh Wilkie suspended 50 games

Washington Nationals prospect reliever Josh Wilkie has been suspended for 50 games for violation of Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy. Wilkie, a reliever at AAA Syracuse, was suspended for the use of a spiced tobacco product, not illegal, but banned by the MLB. Wilkie was once thought to be a future cog in the Nats bullpen, but struggled at times this season, with an ERA over 4.00.

Additionally, minor league reliever Rafael Martin and IF Josh Johnson, as first time offenders, will enter the Major League substance abuse program with no suspensions. However, Martin and Wilkie were placed on Syracuse's restricted list.

These guys, all of them, have to start thinking and checking before acting. Overall, you would think there would be some kind of appreciation for the opportunity they have, that most never get. It is that way in all professional sports and you would think we would be sued to this stuff. However, given the incredible talent and opportunity of professional athletes, I still get completely baffled by these type of situations.