DOWNTOWN — One of the St. Louis Cardinals pet projects and a former closer prospect, Kenny Maiques, was suspended for 50 games starting Friday by Major League Baseball for a positive drug test, the commissioner’s office announced this afternoon.

Maiques tested positive for a “drug of abuse”, according the official release.

“We are disappointed,” said farm director Jeff Luhnow. “We have an educational program for all players that clearly explains the rules and warns them about the perils of using substances not prescribed by a doctor or approved by one of our trainers. Unfortunately, some players still make poor choices and there are consequences for those choices.”

Maiques, a righthander, had been in the Class AA Springfield bullpen, and he’s been struggling. In 3 2/3 innings this season he’s allowed seven runs (six earned), walked 13 and only struck out four. Maiques was once considered the best junior college pitcher in the country by publications such as Baseball America, but he felt his draft status plummet when he pitched with a tear in his elbow and required Tommy John surgery before the draft. The Cardinals offered him a deal. They would draft him — 1,130th overall — in the 2005 draft, cover the expense of his surgery and rehab him … if he accepted being drafted that low, in the 37th round.

Initial results were positive. Maiques, generously listed as 6-foot-1, is a fit, ripped, fireplug of a pitcher, and in 2007 he had 31 saves for Low-A Quad Cities. He struck out 57 in 53 innings, a total diminished only by his 20 walks.

In other minor-league moves, the Cardinals promoted St. Louis native Travis Mitchell to Quad Cities from extended spring training. He takes the place of Chris Swauger, who moved up to High-A Palm Beach. And, late this afternoon, slugging Maine Bear and first baseman Curt Smith has been promoted to Double-A Springfield.

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