Reds prospect Gutierrez suspended for PED use

CINCINNATI -- Major League Baseball announced on Sunday that Reds right-handed pitching prospect Vladimir Gutierrez is among four Minor Leaguers suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Gutierrez, 24 and Cincinnati’s No. 15 prospect per MLB Pipeline, tested positive for Stanozolol in violation of MLB’s Minor League drug prevention and treatment program, and is suspended 80 games without pay.

The Reds signed Gutierrez out of Cuba in 2016 for $4.75 million, but he has struggled for consistency throughout his time in the Minors.

Although MLB Pipeline viewed Gutierrez's changeup as the best secondary pitch among the top prospects in the organization, in 2019 he went 6-11 with a 6.04 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 27 starts for Triple-A Louisville.

Gutierrez was among the non-roster invitees to big league Spring Training in February and March.