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Minor Leaguer Hooker suspended

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By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

04/09/09 6:34 PM ET

ST. LOUIS -- Major League Baseball announced Thursday that Cardinals Minor League pitcher Deryk Hooker has been suspended 50 games for a positive drug test, in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Hooker, 19, is a member of the Cardinals' low Class A Quad Cities team. He was a seventh-round Draft pick in 2007 out of a San Diego-area high school. In his second professional season, Hooker had a fine year. Splitting time between rookie-level Johnson City and Quad Cities, Hooker went 1-2 with a 2.77 ERA, 73 strikeouts and 20 walks in 65 innings.

Hooker had been expected to start the season as a member of the Quad Cities rotation. The River Bandits begin their 2009 season Thursday night with a game at Wisconsin. Hooker's suspension begins immediately.

Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.