Ryan Braun has accepted a suspension that will end his 2013 season.

Cesar Puello was also allegedly involved with Florida-based lab Biogenesis, which has reportedly supplied players with performance enhancing drugs. Braun’s acceptance of such a suspension is basically an admission of guilt, which therefore casts a dark shadow on the other players named in the scandal. Unfortunately, that means Puello will almost certainly face a similar suspension– if not worse. Sad news for a player who was enjoying a breakout season that will almost certainly come under question.

Thoughts from Matt M.

This suspension came as a surprise to me, but not because I didn’t think Braun was guilty. Prior to the MLB All-Star break, reports surfaced the league was planning to hand out suspensions to the players allegedly involved in the Biogenesis clinic once the second half got underway. Then, we heard the suspensions may not happen until the 2014 season.

Players like Braun and Alex Rodriguez probably thought they were in the clear at that point. I was happy that Puello would be able to continue his breakout season instead of getting it interrupted by a possible suspension, but now that’s in jeopardy. According to John Sickels, Puello has a chance at being a top-50 prospect next season, but if he does get handed a suspension, you have to wonder how that will effect him moving forward.

At this point, he hasn’t shown any signs of this distracting him on the field; he’s hitting .332/.401/.569 with 16 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 304 at-bats.

(photo credit: Gordon Donovan)