ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Josh Hamilton was suspended until March 19 and fined Tuesday for violating major league baseball’s drug policy.

Hamilton was the first pick in the 1999 amateur draft but has yet to play a full season in the minor leagues because of injuries and unspecified personal reasons, the latter sidelining all of last season.

The Devil Rays had invited the 22-year-old outfielder to spring training, and had a locker set up for him with No. 31. But the team did it while awaiting word from commissioner Bud Selig’s office on whether Hamilton would be allowed to report with position players on Friday.

“The organization is not in a position to make any further statements concerning this issue,” the team said in a brief statement.

Last week, general manager Chuck LaMar said the club remains optimistic that Hamilton will develop into a productive player, noting that he’s every bit as talented as some of the team’s other promising young players such as Aubrey Huff, Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford.

“But we’ve all been around players who have been gifted and not used that talent. That’s where Josh is,” LaMar said. “He’s got to get back on the field. He’s got to use that talent. … This game is a humbling experience. You’re only as good as your last ballgame you played. He’s got to get out there and win a spot on the club.”

Hamilton last played July 10, 2002, for Class A Bakersfield. Last year, he took six weeks off for personal reasons during spring training and later was granted permission to leave the organization for the rest of the season to handle unspecified personal problems.

When he reported to Double-A Orlando on May 3, Hamilton said that during the leave he took in spring training he sought counseling for depression caused by a serious illness in his family.

The Devil Rays, who had prepared a locker for him this spring, repeatedly have declined to discuss his situation.

Hamilton received a $3.96 million signing bonus coming out of high school. In parts of four minor league seasons, he’s hit .295 with 33 homers and 166 RBIs in 251 games.

Labeled as a can’t-miss prospect when he became the first high school player drafted No. 1 overall since Alex Rodriguez, Hamilton told the St. Petersburg Times last month that he was ready to resume his career.

He declined to discuss the personal problems that sidelined him in 2003, but sounded confident about his chances of bouncing back strong.

“Everything’s good right now,” Hamilton told the Times. “Nothing’s wavered as far as ability or talent. It’s just being out there playing. That’s the part I’ve missed.”

AP-ES-02-17-04 1826EST