Marlins 2B Dee Gordon suspended 80 games after PEDs violation

— -- Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon has been suspended 80 games without pay for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy, the league said early Friday. 

The ban is effectively immediately. 

The speedy second baseman tested positive for exogenous testosterone and clostebol, performance-enhancing substances, MLB said.

A two-time All-Star, he won the NL batting title last year, when he hit .333 to go with 58 steals and 88 runs scored for the Marlins. Gordon, 28, is in his sixth season in the majors. He's made two All-Star teams and won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards at second base last year.

The news was announced soon after the Marlins wrapped up a 5-3 road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, which completed a four-game sweep. Gordon had a key hit from the leadoff spot, going 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. 

Despite the sweep in Los Angeles, the Marlins' clubhouse was masked by hushed tones in the wake of the announcement.

Third baseman Martin Prado said the Marlins would continue to play at a high level.

"I really have nothing else to say," Prado said, according to the Miami Herald. "We had a great series and we played good baseball, the whole team. We have to continue to do that. We have a game tomorrow and we're going to play good baseball against a pretty good team and we want to keep that streak going."

Marlins manager Don Mattingly coached Gordon during his five-year stint managing the Dodgers.

"These guys love Dee and I feel like he's one of my kids," Mattingly said, according to the Herald. "I love him and we're going to move forward. We're definitely shocked and surprised. But you love your kids and that's Dee for me. I'll help him through this process any way I can."

Gordon signed a $50 million, five-year deal with Miami in January. Gordon, the son of former major league pitcher Tom Gordon, is batting .266 with six stolen bases this season.

"Dee Gordon is a very important part of our team, and we all love him and support him," Marlins president David Samson said. "That said, I don't like or condone what he did. He is an important member of this organization and will be for many years to come. It's a huge, huge disappointment to the kids, to our fans, to his teammates and to everyone in our organization every single day.

"He will be back 80 games from now, and he will be welcomed back to this organization. But in the interim period, we expect him, and we are positive that he will do everything that's necessary to make it up to his fans, to his teammates and to this organization."

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander was quick to react via Twitter, saying if players test positive for PEDs, they shouldn't play.

"You shouldn't be allowed to [affect] games while appealing," Verlander said.

Information from and ESPN's Doug Padilla and  The Associated Press was used in this report.