A's Cobb suspended 50 games for amphetamines

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Oakland Athletics Minor League outfielder Larry Cobb has received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for an amphetamine, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension of Cobb is effective immediately.

Cobb is the third Minor Leaguer to receive a performance-enhancing substance-related suspension in the last four days -- Rays prospects Franklin Alcala and Carlos Orasmo each received 50-game suspensions after testing positive for Nandrolone on Friday, June 19.

Cobb was batting .221 with three homers and five RBIs in 21 games for Class A Advanced Stockton of the California League. He spent 10 games this season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he batted .240 in 10 starts.

The College of Charleston product was Oakland's 27th-round pick in the 2006 Draft and was a two-time All-Star last season in the Midwest League with Class A Kane County.

He hit .273 with 13 homers and 70 RBIs in 107 games for the Cougars, earning a brief promotion to Stockton, where he struggled in five games with the Ports. The Florida native was named Midwest League Player of the Week on July 14, 2008.