MLB did not specify the substance the 33-year-old right-handed hurler used.

New York Mets minor league pitcher Yusaku Iriki

Iriki, who signed a one-year major league contract in January, struggled to a 5.93 ERA in six preseason outings.

At the end of March, he was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

In his nine-year career in Japan, Iriki was 35-35 with three saves and a 3.73 ERA. He posted a 6-7 record with a 3.35 ERA in 28 games for the Nippon Ham Fighters last year.

Pitcher Tetsu Yofu was rapped with a 15-game suspension for testing positive for a drug last May when he played for Double-A Birmingham of the Chicago White Sox.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 6, 2006
(C) All rights reserved