Mets release Jenrry Mejia, who had been reinstated after lifetime ban

Mejia is working on making a comeback

11/20/2018, 7:30 PM

Jenrry Mejia's tumultuous Mets career is over.

The Mets announced Tuesday that they have released the embattled reliever, who had been granted conditional reinstatement to Major League Baseball after being banned for life in February 2016.

The 29-year-old Mejia became the first MLB player to receive a lifetime suspension for doping after his third violation of the league's joint drug prevention and treatment program.

In July, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Mejia could return to baseball on the condition he stays out of trouble.

The righty was allowed to begin rehabbing with the Mets after the 2018 All-Star break. He returned to the mound with the DSL Mets in August, striking out 10 hitters while allowing just one hit over seven innings in two games. 

"I've had a long, difficult time away from the game to contemplate the mistakes I've made both with regard to my positive drug tests and also the false allegations I made about Major League Baseball's investigation into my testing history," Mejia said in a statement after being reinstated. "Baseball is my profession, my passion and my life, and for those mistakes I am truly sorry."

The Mets signed the Dominican to a one-year deal worth $1.7 million prior to this past season, but he was not paid because he did not accrue service time.

Once the franchise's top prospect, Mejia made his Mets debut as a starter in 2010 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011 and a follow-up elbow surgery on his elbow. The team converted him into a reliever in 2014, when he enjoyed his most complete season, tallying 28 saves with a 3.65 ERA in 63 games. 

In 2015 Mejia was limited to seven games after being suspended twice during the season in April and July. The third violation came just a few months later. 

Over parts of five seasons with the Mets, Mejia recorded a 3.68 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 183.1 innings (3.83 FIP).

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