Minor Leaguer Deryk Hooker Tests Positive: PEDs Or Recreational?

The St. Louis Cardinals web site announced today that Minor League pitcher Deryk Hooker has been suspended for 50 games because of a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program today.

In today's age of PEDs, I wish Minor League and Major League Baseball would distinguish between drug violations of PEDs and recreational drug use. Especially when you are dealing with a young kid, like Deryk Hooker, and with today's sensitivity to the use of PEDs in Major League Baseball.

Deryk Hooker, a 19-year-old 6'4" RHP, has really good strikeout numbers, jumped three levels last year, and has a very bright future ahead of him. This is not like Alex Rodriguez saying, "I was young and stupid", when he was in his mid-20's.

Kids will be kids, and I think it's important in the development of these young ball players to disclose what kind of drug abuse this is. We don't feel cheated as fans if its recreational drug use, and it helps to distinguish the character of these kids during these formative years.

Are they cheaters, or are they just young, living in the moment, and partying with their friends?

I am not supporting recreational drug use, especially with our youth. There is a difference in trying to get an edge and breaking rules to cheat your way into the Major Leagues, or just using poor judgment and hanging with the wrong crowd.

With today's privacy clauses and acts, it might be beneficial if Major League (and Minor League) Baseball give different suspensions for PEDs and recreational drugs. Recreational drugs do not necessarily violate the integrity of the game.

Just look how public opinion treats the Mike Phelps' and Josh Hamilton's (whom I have tremendous respect for) of the world. Josh Hamilton is a good example and hero for the youth of our country—showing how one can over come the power of addiction and make a new life for themselves—while Alex Rodriguez just looks like a liar and a cheater.

It is my hope that whatever Deryk Hooker did, he did not wreck his future. Hopefully, he learns from this experience to make himself a better person, which in return would make him a better teammate and ball player.