KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Minnesota Twins pitcher Ervin Santana has been reinstated following an 80-game drug suspension and is scheduled to start Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.

Santana signed a $55 million, four-year contract with the Twins in December after going 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA last season for Atlanta. The 32-year-old right-hander tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and sat out the first 80 games of this season.

He went 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three rehab starts with Triple-A Rochester, striking out 11 in 20 2-3 innings. Santana pitched eight scoreless innings with no walks Tuesday against Pawtucket.

To make room for him on the roster Saturday, the Twins optioned right-hander Alex Meyer to Rochester. Meyer had a 16.88 ERA in two relief appearances.

Santana spent his first eight seasons with the Angels and was an All-Star in 2008. He went 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA for the Royals in 2013.

 

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