Gallagher: Barger drawn into social media tiff by Pham

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Addison Barger was suspended in 2019 for testing positive for a prohibited stimulant.

August 20, 2025

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Addison Barger's latest entry into the baseball news cycle isn't what he wanted, although it's not known if all of the information is true, especially when you're dealing with assertions made by controversial Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham.

Pham brought up Barger's past drug history and his alleged current situation in social media dustups on Monday.

A source at Major League Baseball confirmed to me this morning that Barger, a star with the Blue Jays this season, was suspended in 2019 while a member of Toronto's minor-league system.

"The substance was a prohibited stimulant, which is classified differently than a performance-enhancing substance. He got 50 games,'' the person said. "That was the suspension length for a stimulant violation in 2019.''

Pham also alleged Barger is playing under a Therapeutic Use Exemption that allows him to legally use a banned substance.

Pham's assertion may be true but my source said MLB doesn't release what players are granted a TUE.

According to information I received from MLB, 65 Therapeutic Use Exemptions were granted during the period beginning at the start of the 2023-24 season until the end of the 2024 post-season. Of that number, 61 were given to players suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The other four were for either one of altitude sickness, sleep disorder, hypertension and hormone function.

During the reporting period, 11,609 drug tests were conducted, 9,455 through urine samples, 2,154 through blood work.

It will be interesting to see if Pham is suspended by MLB over his tirade Monday with Jays catcher Tyler Heineman and his ensuing comments on social media. He's been in trouble with the MLB sheriffs before.

Pham showboated a walk Monday by flipping his bat and had to be restrained by George Springer, of the Blue Jays, who escorted the Bucs player to first base.