Eric Skoglund, who figured to compete for the Royals’ starting rotation this season, will be suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Skoglund, 26, made 14 appearances with 13 starts for the Royals last season, finishing with a 5.14 ERA and a 1-6 record. The left-handed pitcher made his major-league debut in 2017.
Skoglund will become the second Royals player in as many seasons to serve a suspension for PEDs. Last March, outfielder Jorge Bonifacio was suspended 80 games, the penalty for a first-time offender under MLB’s testing policy.
Royals senior vice-president and general manager Dayton Moore said the organization will continue to support Skoglund.