Rockies Release Mike Jacobs

The Rockies have released minor league first baseman Mike Jacobs following his 50-game suspension for testing positive for HGH, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (via Twitter). He apologized to the Rockies and said he hopes to sign with a team in 2012, Renck reports (Twitter link).

Jacobs, 30, signed a minor league deal with the Rockies in December after he spent time with the Mets and Blue Jays organizations in 2010. He was hitting .298/.376/.534 with 23 homers for Triple-A Colorado Springs in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but he did not appear in the big leagues in 2011.

Jacobs becomes the first player ever suspended for using HGH, which is not tested for in the Major Leagues, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. HGH testing was introduced in the minor leagues before the 2010 season.

With a new collective bargaining agreement to be negotiated this offseason, I wonder whether HGH testing will be one of the issues on the table.