Chicago’s Castillo gets 80-game ban

Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.

The commissioner’s office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red-blood-cell production and often turns up in test results for cyclists.

Castillo apologized in a statement through the players’ union, saying he has “let many people down.” He pointed to an “extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct.”

Castillo accepted the penalty without contesting it before arbitrator Mark Irvings. The discipline stemmed from an in-season test, and he became the eighth player suspended this year under the major-league drug-testing program.

Castillo is in his ninth major-league season. The 31-year-old Dominican is batting .267 with six homers and 15 RBIs.

Catcher Alfredo Gonzalez was promoted from Triple-A Charlotte to take Castillo’s roster spot.

Pedroia returning: Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia will be activated from the disabled list Friday after missing the first 50 games while recovering from knee surgery, manager Alex Cora said.

Pedroia, 34, had surgery in November. The 2008 AL MVP was hurt when the Orioles’ Manny Machado slid into his leg early last season, but continued to play and batted .293 with seven home runs, 62 RBIs in 105 games.

Injury report: White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon was removed from a minor-league rehab start after being hit in the forehead by a line drive. Rodon was pitching for Charlotte as he works back from offseason shoulder surgery. He fell to the ground, but bounced up quickly after being struck by D’Arby Myers’ comebacker. Rodon walked off the field with the team’s trainer . ... Minnesota activated third baseman Miguel Sano (hamstring) from the DL . ... Boston activated pitcher Hector Velazquez (back) from the DL. ... Milwaukee activated outfielder Ryan Braun (back) from the DL . ... White Sox utilityman Leury Garcia (knee sprain) went on the DL.