Arizona has signed outfielder Max Kepler while he remains under an 80-game suspension for an Epitrenbolone positive. Kepler can’t join the team until June 25, after his ban ends, and will stay on the restricted list without counting against Arizona’s 40-man ro
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks made the signing official on Sunday, but Max Kepler’s first day in a Diamondbacks uniform isn’t coming anytime soon.
The club has signed the 33-year-old outfielder while he is still serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Arizona also confirmed that Kepler will not be able to report to the team until June 25, the day his suspension ends.
During that waiting period, Kepler will remain on the restricted list and will not count against the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster.
The suspension stems from a positive test in January for Epitrenbolone, a metabolite of Trenbolone. The substance is contained in some products sold in body-building stores and has been used in products designed to promote cattle growth. Kepler became the first player suspended by Major League Baseball for that substance since public announcements of the penalty details began in 2005.
Kepler’s return to the field comes after a mixed recent stretch. Last year, he hit .216 with 18 homers and 52 RBIs with the Philadelphia Phillies after agreeing to a $10 million, one-year contract. His 2024 season was slowed by left patellar tendinitis. and after the season he underwent core surgery to repair a sports hernia.
The signing also brings a familiar career path back into focus. Kepler grew up in Germany and signed with the Twins at age 16 in 2009. Across 11 big league seasons, he has a .235 batting average with 179 homers and 560 RBIs.
The Diamondbacks still haven’t released the deal’s terms.
For now, the headline is simple: Arizona has Kepler under contract, but the player won’t be available until the ban is fully served—meaning the club’s immediate impact plans will have to wait for the June 25 cutoff to arrive.
Max Kepler Arizona Diamondbacks MLB suspension Epitrenbolone PED restricted list June 25 40-man roster Philadelphia Phillies Minnesota Twins
So they signed him while he’s still suspended… that seems wild. Like congrats on the paperwork?
I’m confused how he can be “signed” but can’t play till June 25. Doesn’t that mess with the team roster stuff too?
June 25 is crazy late, what, they just stash him and pretend it’s fine? Also Epitrenbolone sounds like a gym supplement name so I’m like… did he even know? People say it’s for cattle but whatever.
This is so shady, MLB bans him and then the Diamondbacks grab him anyway. I read “Trenbolone metabolite” and my brain went straight to steroids 100%… plus he had surgery and all that, so maybe they just wanted the body-builder hype??