Israel Mateo was signed in 2020 by the Rays.

Dominican pitcher Israel Mateo has become the first player to be sanctioned by Major League Baseball in 2023 for using performance-enhancing drugs.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Mateo will now be forced to miss the next 55 games.

Mateo was caught using Boldenone, an illegal substance.

Mateo, born in San Pedro de Macorís in November 2001, has 25 games of professional experience to his credit.

He is 1-7 with a 5.26 ERA and a 49/35 P/BB ratio.

The right-hander appeared in just 12.2 innings last season in the rookie division.

However, he lowered his ERA from 6.08 to 2.84.

Additionally, Tampa Bay moved Mateo to a strict relief role in 2022. After making seven starts in his first pro season, Mateo's 10 appearances last season were in a relief role.

Mateo is barely 20 years old.

He is not listed among the Rays' top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.

Mateo will not be left out for most of the first half of the season.

He will have time to think about his decision.

If Tampa Bay keeps him in the organization, Mateo will look to turn his career around.

According to data published in November of last year by the Dominican journalist Erick José Lantigua, two countries stand out in the number of positive doping cases.

The United States (230) and the Dominican Republic (228) are well above the rest, also adding Minor League players.

An alarming figure for the people of Quisqueyan if we take into account that the total is much less than that of the Americans.