Angels minor leaguer Ercilio De La Cruz fails drug test, is suspended

Staff Writer

Sept. 6, 2011 2:23 PM PT

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Outfielder Ercilio De La Cruz, who helped lead the Angels’ Dominican Summer League team to a championship this season, has been given a 50-game suspension after testing positive for an elevated testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in violation of baseball’s minor league drug prevention and treatment program.

De La Cruz, an 18-year-old switch-hitter from Santo Domingo, hit .231 in 47 games, scoring 30 runs and stealing 13 bases in 19 tries. He’s a .226 lifetime hitter in two minor league seasons, both in the Dominican.

De La Cruz will serve his penalty at the start of next season.

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Kevin Baxter

Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.