The sad tale of Jenrry Mejia came to a close Friday night, as reports flew in that Mejia had failed a third drug test in less than a year. Major League Baseball issued a lifetime ban to Mejia, joining only Pete Rose on their banned list of players. Mejia can seek a reinstatement after one year, but would have to sit out a minimum of two years before he could potentially be reinstated.
Mejia, 26, undoubtedly left many Mets fans vehemently upset and angry over his third failed test, and failing the second and third time while already serving a prior suspension. It raises many questions on who was in Mejia’s ear and aiding him along while he served his first two suspensions? After the first time, wouldn’t his agents, family, and friends try to do their best to make sure Mejia didn’t make the same mistake? You wonder whom Mejia had in his corner during these past several months, if anyone, to lean on for advice and help.
Many felt that the Mets should have cut him after the second failed test last summer, as it seemed that Mejia was uncommitted and didn’t understand the propensity of his actions. The Mets held on to Mejia and tendered him a contract in January for $2.47MM, though a large portion of that would be reduced due to time missed this season. The way the Mets were seeing it, they would be receiving a mid to upper 90s late innings reliever for the stretch run, someone that would help and provide experience in the back end of the pen. Mejia would essentially be the equivalent of adding a quality bullpen arm before the trade deadline.
But all that comes to an end now, with Mejia hammering the nail in his own coffin. While fans have the right to be outraged and upset, one does hope that Mejia seeks whatever treatment he might need to get back on track in his life. While his Major League career appears to be over, Mejia is only 26 years old, and it would be a shame to see such a young man derail his life over bad judgment.
I find it comical that some have made inferences that if Mejia was going to cheat, at least take drugs that are harder to detect or undetectable under the current testing. John Harper of the Daily News had a column in Saturday’s paper that talks about how players are now taking “synthetic testosterone and other more sophisticated PEDs…more for day-to-day strength and recovery to help players perform at their highest level over the grind of 162 games.”
Cheating is cheating; no matter what drugs one is taking or for whatever personal reasons they have behind it. Yes, getting caught with the same drugs (Stanozolol and Boldenone) is unequivocally moronic and puzzling, however, it wouldn’t make the suspension any easier to swallow had Mejia been caught with any other PED.
What Harper’s column does remind us all is that players aren’t as naive and foolish as Mejia was. Most players know what drugs are detectable and how fervent drug testing is now throughout the year. Harper brings up how very few players are getting caught failing drug tests these days. That most likely is predicated on the fact that A. a tougher more stringent drug place is in effect than ever has been before, and B. more and more undetected drugs are available on the market that players can turn to to skirt the system. So yes, the drug testing that’s in place is a great start, but there seems to always be newer PEDs that players can turn to that won’t result in a positive test result.
As far as Mejia goes, I will miss his enthusiasm and excitement he brought on the mound, along with the several plus pitches he commanded. I hope Mejia gets the right help he needs to get his life back on track and finds a new venture. Unfortunately, that doesn’t include a late September hold against the Nationals anymore for the young right-hander.
