Noelvi Marte, Reds' No. 1 MLB Prospect, Suspended 80 Games for Failed PED Test

One of the best young players in the Cincinnati Reds' system will miss approximately half of the 2024 season.

The Reds announced that infielder Noelvi Marte was suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy. Marte is the No. 1 overall prospect in Cincinnati's system heading into the 2024 season, per MLB.com's rankings.

The league's announcement revealed the suspension was for Boldenone, which is a banned substance.

Marte is the No. 21 overall prospect in the league and figures to have a bright future, although it will now be on hold following this development.

He appeared in 35 games for the Reds last season and slashed .316/.366/.456 with three home runs, 15 RBI and six stolen bases. The numbers underscored his ability to impact the game in a number of ways even in a small-sample size, as he can hit for average and power while bringing impressive speed to the table.

Marte last slashed .279/.358/.454 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 92 games across three different levels of minor league play in 2023.

Cincinnati has a crowded infield with Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Jeimer Candelario, Jonathan India and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, among others, but Marte had a chance to make the Opening Day roster prior to this suspension.

In fact, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com just projected him to be included on the Opening Day roster even though he was working his way back from a right hamstring strain.

Yet the Reds will have to move on without him when they start the campaign on March 28 against the Washington Nationals.