David Rollins Hit with 80 Game Ban for PEDs
David Rollins has been nearly unhittable this spring with the Seattle Mariners, and now we know why. Rollins has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, and Major League Baseball handed down an 80 game suspension on Friday afternoon.
The Mariners acquired Rollins via the rule 5 draft this winter from the Houston Astros. The 25-year-old southpaw was considered the favorite to win the second lefty spot in the Mariners’ bullpen. Rollins has been electric in Cactus League play, going 1-0, and posting a 1.13 ERA across 8.0 innings. He’s added 7 strikeouts, and had yet to allow a walk. Rollins has a great fastball, hitting 93 mph consistently on the gun. However, now his true velocity without steroids will get called into question.
“It was very bad judgment by myself, and I’ve been regretting it ever since.”
Bob Dutton of The News Tribune spoke briefly with David Rollins after the news broke of his 80 game suspension. Rollins admits that he took banned substances after he returned from winter ball because “I was sore, and I was just trying to speed up the recovery.” The Texas native did show remorse for his indiscretions saying, “It’s been tough for me and my family, and I just want to apologize to my fans, my family, the Seattle organization and everybody else that I’ve disappointed. I deeply regret what I did.”
Prior to Rollins testing positive, the Mariners were tentatively expected to hold onto him to start the season. Being a rule 5 draftee, David Rollins would have to pass through waivers if the Mariners cut him. If he somehow manages to clear waivers he will be offered back to the Astros. Based on his performance this spring, there is no way he clears waivers. But it is hard to say what the future holds for Rollins in wake of the recent developments.
Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times caught up with Mariners’ General Manager Jack Zduriencik to discuss the disturbing situation.
"“Yeah, it’s a shock,” he said. “I’m disappointed in David. It was an error in judgment. The young man made mistake. He’s not the first, and he probably won’t be the last. It’s unfortunate. He was in a good position with how he was pitching and where he was at with the ball club. But now you just have to recalculate. We’ll stand by him and walk him through this. There’s a lot yet to be determined with his Rule 5 status and how that all plays out. We don’t have all the answers right now.”"
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Now that Rollins is out of the picture, the M’s will most likely turn to 25-year-old lefty Tyler Olson. The Gonzaga alum has been equally as dominant as Rollins this spring, allowing just 1 unearned run across 9.2 innings. Olson has recorded 11 strikeouts, and has yet to issue a free pass. Opponents have tallied just 5 hits off the southpaw, and he sports an impressive 0.517 WHIP.
Today’s news is a shock, and disappointing to be sure. David Rollins was one of the more intriguing story lines this spring, and I was rooting for him to make the club. Rollins is a young man who made a big mistake, however one mistake does not define a person’s life. Thankfully, Tyler Olson is having a phenomenal spring, and should make a great addition in the M’s bullpen. It sounds like the Mariners will try to hold onto Rollins, so perhaps there is still hope he will make an impact after the All Star break in Seattle.