The Pittsburgh Pirates have released infielder Kevin Ross. He is currently under suspension for 50 games due to failing a drug test(drug of abuse) for the second time. Ross won’t be able to serve his suspension until he signs with another team. He is the second minor league player the Pirates have released recently after a failed drug test. Pitcher Michael Clemens, who was a 2014 draft pick, was also released after he failed a test at the end of last season while he was with the Bristol Pirates.
Ross was the Pirates eighth round draft pick in 2012 out of high school and they signed him to a $130,000 bonus. He spent most of the 2013 season on the Minor League restricted list for an unspecified reason. In three seasons, the 21-year-old played a total of 70 games, hitting .241/.275/.352 in 249 at-bats. He excelled at putting the ball in play, as evident by his total of seven walks and 27 strikeouts in his career. Ross was an All-Star in 2014 while with Jamestown.