Hudson Boyd - 50 game suspension

[60ft6in]

Twins Minor Leaguer Hudson Boyd gets a 50-game suspension for a second violation of a drug of abuse.

 

I hope he can get things back on track!! I believe it puts him playing around June. Does he go back to Cedar Rapids?

[jokin]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is second PED suspension, plus he was suspended by the team last July for team-related violations.  He's now 24 and still in Class A.  I would think he's on very thin ice, and may very well be yet another 1st round draft pick bust for the Twins.

[Seth Stohs]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is second PED suspension, plus he was suspended by the team last July for team-related violations.  He's now 24 and still in Class A.  I would think he's on very thin ice, and may very well be yet another 1st round draft pick bust for the Twins.

 

He was the 55th pick in the 2011 draft and debuted in 2012. He has spent the last two years in Low-A Cedar Rapids. 

 

He hasn't pitched well, but I think they would have pushed him to Ft. Myers next year. Not sure if this affects that. He is not 24, he just turned 22.  And, it is his first league suspension. It was not for a PED, but for a "drug of abuse." The suspension in July was something else, just a team suspension.

[jokin]

He was the 55th pick in the 2011 draft and debuted in 2012. He has spent the last two years in Low-A Cedar Rapids. 

 

He hasn't pitched well, but I think they would have pushed him to Ft. Myers next year. Not sure if this affects that. He is not 24, he just turned 22.  And, it is his first league suspension. It was not for a PED, but for a "drug of abuse." The suspension in July was something else, just a team suspension.

 

Yup, you're right on the age thing, I was thinking he was a college guy, he was a 1st round supplemental pick.  But you're definitely wrong on the suspensions, this is his 2nd drug bust, plus the team thing last year:

The Pi-Press hinted that Boyd has had a continuing weight problem, thus my assumption that his drug of choice was steroid/stimulant-related.

 

 

For a third time, pitcher Hudson Boyd has needed to be disciplined by either the Minnesota Twins or Major League Baseball.

Boyd has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse, according to MLB.com. Last season, he pitched for the low Class A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kernels, one level below the Class A Fort Myers Miracle.                 

Minnesota Twins director of minor leagues Brad Steil confirmed this is Boyd's second positive test.

"We're just disappointed when something like this happens," Steil said.

Last July, Boyd was suspended indefinitely for violating undisclosed team rules.

 

[Linus]

The only thing about this that makes me angry about this is it is a reminder of what got us into this mess of the last four years: poor drafting.

[Seth Stohs]

It was his second failed drug test for a 'drug of abuse.' It wasn't a PED thing. The first failed test is almost like a warning and they have to do some stuff, but they're not suspended. The second time, they get 50 games. It's the same situation that happened with Eddie Rosario, and Mark Hamburger and Anthony Swarzak. 

 

A suspension for drugs of abuse are not some sort of death sentence as shown by the three players above. Kennys Vargas had a 50 game suspension for a PED 3 years ago. 

 

These guys are young and make mistakes sometimes. It's not a good thing. It's lost development time, but it can be overcome.

[jay]

Yup, you're right on the age thing, I was thinking he was a college guy, he was a 1st round supplemental pick. But you're definitely wrong on the suspensions, this is his 2nd drug bust, plus the team thing last year:

The Pi-Press hinted that Boyd has had a continuing weight problem, thus my assumption that his drug of choice was steroid/stimulant-related.

Well, you're still wrong...

 

Seth said it was his first league suspension, which is completely accurate. Missing time for violating team rules isn't a league suspension. A first positive test for a drug of abuse leads to a warning. A second positive test for a drug of abuse is a 50-game league suspension, which is the case here and his first league suspension.

 

Also, a "drug of abuse" (weed, coke, ecstasy, etc) has nothing to do with steroids which would be a PED and immediate suspension.

[Steven Buhr]

I would imagine that nobody is more disappointed in his lack of progress on the mound than Boyd himself. I think he's a good guy with some talent and I was glad to read Steil's comments about not giving up on him. I hope Hudson bounces back from this, similarly to how Rosario seems to have done, and gets his career back on track.

[HitInAPinch]

22 and abusing drugs.  Someone needs to sit him down and have a HARD talk with Hudson.

[Ben Noble]

He's young and young people make mistakes, and not everyone matures on the same timeline. Still, it seems to me that every time Boyd's name has come up over the past couple of years, it hasn't been for anything positive; he's had both poor on-field performance as well as off-field issues. Maybe that's selective memory on my part. Either way, I was excited by the scouting reports when he was drafted, so I'm definitely pulling for him. Hopefully this is a wake up call; he certainly wouldn't be the first baseball player to have some bumps early on in his career before turning things around.

[Halsey Hall]

Regarding his suspension by the team, it may have been related to this:  On a road trip last year he got stinkin' drunk, and stripped down and was parading around the streets, and got arrested.  I think they suspended him for 6 games for that.   Or so I was told. 

[bird]

I would imagine that nobody is more disappointed in his lack of progress on the mound than Boyd himself. I think he's a good guy with some talent and I was glad to read Steil's comments about not giving up on him. I hope Hudson bounces back from this, similarly to how Rosario seems to have done, and gets his career back on track.

 

Let's root for this kid and cut him some slack, as the Twins appear willing to do. Drug and alcohol abuse and addiction require from us some understanding, but the individual affected by it has to own up to the problem too, of course.

 

And let's cut the organization a little slack too. This isn't a case of "poor drafting" necessarily, is it?

[bird]

The only thing about this that makes me angry about this is it is a reminder of what got us into this mess of the last four years: poor drafting.

I'm going to push back a lot on any assessment of "poor drafting" in our recent past. Go all the way back ten years, acknowledging that roughly 30% of top ten selections fail and roughly 75% of bottom third first-rounders flunk out, and tell me which of our first-round picks are evidence of poor drafting. Michael (#30) and Parmelee (#22), I would argue, are kinda par for the course given they were late selections in shallow draft years IIRC.

 

Poor draft results can be the result of things other than "poor drafting", and Hudson Boyd might be just another example of a good pick gone bad. It happens to everyone.

[Thrylos]

22 and abusing drugs.  Someone needs to sit him down and have a HARD talk with Hudson.

 

There are drugs and there are drugs.  Shooting heroic and smoking crack carries the same sentence as taking diet pills that used to be widespread in this country and readily available on the internets . 

 

Of course, it is pretty stupid to put that stuff in his body.  As far as his  weight goes last ST he looked much better.  Did not see him during the season, maybe JC can comment on that.   Here is what he looked like about a year ago (top) vs in 2012 (bottom) .  Major difference:

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/13155477975_efc6eb09d3_c.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7022468801_d4f3a60aba_b.jpg

 

Seriously.  He was smaller than (e.g) Lester Oliveros

 

He does need to get his act together. I think maybe becoming a reliever for a couple of seasons (started last season) might help.    Too early to call him a bust after his age 21 season.  There is a certain Hall of Famer who in his age 21 season (ssA) had 5.93 ERA, 1.931 WHIP and more BB than K.  Boyd is ahead of that... 

[Thrylos]

I'm going to push back a lot on any assessment of "poor drafting" in our recent past. Go all the way back ten years, acknowledging that roughly 30% of top ten selections fail and roughly 75% of bottom third first-rounders flunk out, and tell me which of our first-round picks are evidence of poor drafting. Michael (#30) and Parmelee (#22), I would argue, are kinda par for the course given they were late selections in shallow draft years IIRC.

 

Poor draft results can be the result of things other than "poor drafting", and Hudson Boyd might be just another example of a good pick gone bad. It happens to everyone.

 

I would not put Michael and Parmelee in the same sentence as far as failed first rounders go 

I think that Michael turned a corner.  He had the highest OPS for a second baseman in the Twins organization this side of Mexico, including Mr Dozier.   His problem had been lack of comfort with the wooden stick, which looks like its gone.  Plus he is healthy now and 2B agrees with him more than SS, like the aforementioned Mr Dozier.  And was just 23 last season.   Might see him in MN in September...

[nater79a]

Looking at Thrylos' picture above... that Aaron Slegers is one tall drink of water!

[gunnarthor]

The only thing about this that makes me angry about this is it is a reminder of what got us into this mess of the last four years: poor drafting.

Frankly, he was exactly what Twins fans were clamoring for the team to do - pick a hard throwing HS pitcher with upside.  Everyone always looks at the ones that pan out and say, "What can't the Twins do that?" and ignore the massive number of guys who don't make it.  Since 1990, there have been two good picks at #55 in the draft - Todd Helton and Brett Anderson. 

[Thrylos]

Frankly, he was exactly what Twins fans were clamoring for the team to do - pick a hard throwing HS pitcher with upside.  Everyone always looks at the ones that pan out and say, "What can't the Twins do that?" and ignore the massive number of guys who don't make it.  Since 1990, there have been two good picks at #55 in the draft - Todd Helton and Brett Anderson. 

 

That is not a good comparison because it excludes picks higher than 55.  I'd argue that in the draft the the Twins picked Boyd at 55, there were better picks later among high school pitchers (but hindsight is 20:20.)

 

Also, Boyd was a local Fort Myers kid and Twins' personnel, in addition to the regular amateur scouts, have watched him a lot.  Not to be underestimated.

[gunnarthor]

That is not a good comparison because it excludes picks higher than 55.  I'd argue that in the draft the the Twins picked Boyd at 55, there were better picks later among high school pitchers (but hindsight is 20:20.)

 

Also, Boyd was a local Fort Myers kid and Twins' personnel, in addition to the regular amateur scouts, have watched him a lot.  Not to be underestimated.

I don't disagree with what you're saying. By picking Boyd, the Twins passed on some guys behind them that in retrospect looked better - Tony Cingrani, Daniel Norris to name two.  I also can't remember if the draft pools were in place in 2011 or if that started in 2012.  It seems that Norris was a first round talent who fell on signability concerns. 

 

But when you're picking at #55, you are likely not going to succeed and the history of the draft shows that.  The Boyd pick, at the time, was well received.  Klaw liked him a lot, IIRC. 

[ashbury]

Looking at Thrylos' picture above... that Aaron Slegers is one tall drink of water!

And Boyd makes me think of that one guy on Workaholics - that can't be good, can it?

 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8p5tvEeWH1rcjifso1_r2_500.gif

 

_{^{(I know his name is Adam DeVine.  That one guy on Workaholics is just a better descriptor for, well, that one guy whose character on Workaholics would probably describe the character as that one guy on Workaholics.)}}

[ashbury]

Since 1990, there have been two good picks at #55 in the draft - Todd Helton and Brett Anderson. 

Exactly.  Why can't the Twins do that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bird]

I would not put Michael and Parmelee in the same sentence as far as failed first rounders go 

I think that Michael turned a corner.  He had the highest OPS for a second baseman in the Twins organization this side of Mexico, including Mr Dozier.   His problem had been lack of comfort with the wooden stick, which looks like its gone.  Plus he is healthy now and 2B agrees with him more than SS, like the aforementioned Mr Dozier.  And was just 23 last season.   Might see him in MN in September...

Neither would I. And I'd make the distinction between good draft selections (the opposite of poor draft selections) and "failed first rounders", which I can accept about Parmelee.  A player can actually be both.

[jokin]

Well, you're still wrong...

 

Seth said it was his first league suspension, which is completely accurate. Missing time for violating team rules isn't a league suspension. A first positive test for a drug of abuse leads to a warning. A second positive test for a drug of abuse is a 50-game league suspension, which is the case here and his first league suspension.

 

Also, a "drug of abuse" (weed, coke, ecstasy, etc) has nothing to do with steroids which would be a PED and immediate suspension.

 

Wrong on a technicality.  This indisputably was Boyd's third case of discipline for misconduct, twice with the League, once with his team, as was reported accurately.  That's not one, but THREE wake-up calls to get your act together. Coupled with his lackluster performance and obstinance about not being promoted to Ft Myers, not a good track record for a Supplemental 1st rounder since he was signed three years ago.  There also is the issue brought up by the reporter in the Pioneer Press, who seemed pretty confident in alleging Boyd's difficulty with weight issues might be a factor in all of this, so I don't know if that door has been closed yet, or not.

 

It's pretty easy to see him gone by this day one year from now.

[jokin]

Neither would I. And I'd make the distinction between good draft selections (the opposite of poor draft selections) and "failed first rounders", which I can accept about Parmelee.  A player can actually be both.

 

Boyd hasn't shown much to this point to think he's anywhere near turning any corners.

[HitInAPinch]

Looking at Thrylos' picture above... that Aaron Slegers is one tall drink of water!

 

6' 10" 245lbs.  Makes Vargas look small I watched a couple videos and at 22, he still needs work on his mechanics.  The good news is he drives though on his delivery.  Most tall pitchers don't do that and end up being soft-tossers.

[bird]

Boyd hasn't shown much to this point to think he's anywhere near turning any corners.

Of course he hasn't. He presumably has a very serious illness.

 

He's like hundreds and hundreds of minor leaguers over the years that have struggled to live up to their enormous potential. I'd guess abusing alcohol has been the downfall of many of talented prospects. Boyd still has time to overcome his addiction (assumption here), stop the craziness that accompanies addiction, and put his life and career in order.

 

He's just another sound draft choice gone awry, at least temporarily in his case. It's a scenario that gets played out every year, and in every organization. 

 

He is not an example of poor drafting.

[ashbury]

6' 10" 245lbs. 

Fangraphs uses a different algorithm and has Slegers at 250 pounds.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Based on the pick, Boyd looks like he's built like me.  If that's the case, he's going to have trouble maintaining weight most of his career.  To get you an idea, I'm 5' 8" and weigh a good 230 pounds.  I ran a marathon this fall (my 2nd) and still cannot loose weight.  In that aspect of things, I sympathize with the kid. 

 

That said, his lack of success thus far is probably going to do him in here.  Vargas was still a prospect and had decent results before all of this.  Boyd hasn't done much in that area, though given the 7 figure investment, he'll get every shot he can get until he's a minor league FA.  That said, there's a huge difference between a diet pill or even weed vs. other drugs of abuse.  We dont' know what he did, but at the end of the day it's a bad choice.  He can over come it, but I'd have to think that he's running out of opportunities.

[jokin]

Of course he hasn't. He presumably has a very serious illness.

 

He's like hundreds and hundreds of minor leaguers over the years that have struggled to live up to their enormous potential. I'd guess abusing alcohol has been the downfall of many of talented prospects. Boyd still has time to overcome his addiction (assumption here), stop the craziness that accompanies addiction, and put his life and career in order.

 

He's just another sound draft choice gone awry, at least temporarily in his case. It's a scenario that gets played out every year, and in every organization. 

 

He is not an example of poor drafting.

 

I disagree. See Diehard's excellent Post #28, he provides many of the reasons why he is:

 

 

Based on the pick, Boyd looks like he's built like me.  If that's the case, he's going to have trouble maintaining weight most of his career.  To get you an idea, I'm 5' 8" and weigh a good 230 pounds.  I ran a marathon this fall (my 2nd) and still cannot loose weight.  In that aspect of things, I sympathize with the kid. 

 

That said, his lack of success thus far is probably going to do him in here.  Vargas was still a prospect and had decent results before all of this.  Boyd hasn't done much in that area, though given the 7 figure investment, he'll get every shot he can get until he's a minor league FA.  That said, there's a huge difference between a diet pill or even weed vs. other drugs of abuse.  We dont' know what he did, but at the end of the day it's a bad choice.  He can over come it, but I'd have to think that he's running out of opportunities.

[glunn]

I would hope that the Twins will make sure that Boyd gets counselling.  I would also hope that in the future his roommate on the road can be someone who will provide a positive influence, and that the coaches can talk to him a lot about how much better his life will be if he can focus on realizing his potential.

 

I think that some players need more attention than others, and hope that Boyd will be getting a lot of attention, including positive reinforcement when he does what he needs to do.

 

Does anyone know how teams handle similar situations, i.e. prospects with huge upside who falter?  It seems to me that having a psychologist on staff at every level would be an investment that would probably pay off.  The cost would be less than $500,000 per year and if it meant success for two prospects who would otherwise have failed it seems like the return could be worth millions of dollars compared with having to hire free agents to fill in the gaps from prospects who failed but could have succeeded with counselling.