PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates lost four minor league players today, two because of positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs and two due to a revised military policy.

Major League Baseball announced 50-game suspensions for right-handed pitchers Roman Carrasco and Luis Figuera, who tested positive for anabolic steroids. That span will carry through the end of the organization's Venezuelan Summer League team's season and into early next season.

Outfielder Cole White and catcher Chris Simmons both will be forced to leave the Pirates' short-season Class A affiliate in State College, Pa., after the U.S. Army revised its interpretation of the U.S. Department of Defense's policy on allowing cadets to pursue professional sports careers.

"When we took these two guys, we were under the understanding we would have them and they would not have to fulfill their (military) obligation initially," Pirates director of player development Kyle Stark said. "Basically, the Department of Defense changed their approach on this, and since they're the government, they can do that."

The 23-year-old White was leading the Spikes in hitting with a .366 average.

Simmons, who is 22, had a .258 average with four RBIs in 31 at-bats. Each attended the U.S. Military Academy. Simmons was selected in the 41st round of this year's draft, and White was taken in the following round.

Stark said that the Pirates and Major League Baseball were still trying to fully understand the new military policy, but that he hoped to have each player back in the organization in time for spring training.

"Obviously, we're disappointed," Stark said. "We're trying to add prospects, and now we've lost two guys. I think both young men are disappointed, too."

In the case of the 20-year-old Carrasco and 17-year-old Figuera, Stark indicated it was the team's belief that the players took their respective banned substances unknowingly.

Carrasco, who was 7-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 12 starts, tested positive for Nandrolone. Figurea, 6-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 14 games —four starts — was found with Stanozolol.

"I think there's a tendency for some confusion to happen with some young Latin American players," Stark said. "We'll have to continue to do a good job down there with our education as to what they're putting in their bodies."