FORT MYERS, FLA. – Paul Molitor addresses his team before every spring training workout. But his message on Friday was drastically different.
The manager informed the club that righthander Ervin Santana had been suspended for 80 games for taking Stanozolol.
Everyone was stunned.
"It kind of hit everyone on the blind side," Twins first baseman Joe Mauer said.
Afterward, Trevor Plouffe walked up to Santana and gave him a hug, starting a procession of players reaching out to Santana, who got a little emotional.
"He began to tear up," outfielder Torii Hunter said.
Teams liken themselves to families. In this case, they rallied around someone whose actions deeply affect the family. Righthander Mike Pelfrey, who will replace Santana in the rotation, mentioned that Santana's five shutout innings on Thursday against Boston excited the club, so to suddenly not have him for half the season was startling.
"He's in our clubhouse now so he's one of our brothers now and we support him," Pelfrey said. "Nobody is perfect. Everyone deserves a second chance, and we'll look forward to having him when he comes back."