CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A minor league shortstop in the Cincinnati Reds organization has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, ESPN.com reported. The organization released Peyton Holt on Wednesday following the announcement.
Holt, who signed a minor league contract with the Reds in May, reportedly tested positive for GW1516. The suspension means he will miss the first half of the 2026 Minor League season.
The 25-year-old played 43 games for Low-A Daytona, recording a .151 batting average with three home runs, 12 RBIs, and four stolen bases. Despite his struggles in the minors, Holt had a standout collegiate career at the University of Arkansas, where he was named a 2024 SEC All-Defensive honoree and hit .345 with 19 extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases over two seasons.
It’s the second-straight year a Reds player has been suspended 80 games for PED use. Noelvi Marte was the top prospect in the organization when in 2024 he tested positive for Boldenone and missed the first half of the season.