D-backs call up Jacobs, who once failed HGH test PHOENIX — First baseman Mike Jacobs, the first North American professional athlete to test positive for human growth hormone last year, was called up Wednesday to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and hopes that Major League Baseball further strengthens its drug program. MLB implemented HGH testing at the major league level for the first time in its collective bargaining agreement in December, but players are required to submit to blood tests only in spring training. "I think it's really good for baseball,'' Jacobs said of the HGH testing. "I think it should take further steps for it.'' Jacobs, who was last in the majors in 2010, tested positive last year playing in the minors for the Colorado Rockies' Class AAA team in Colorado Springs. The minor leagues implemented HGH testing in July 2010. He was suspended for 50 games and subsequently released by the Rockies. Jacobs said at the time that he used HGH to recover from back and knee injuries,calling it "a terrible decision, one of the worst I could have ever made.'' "When you own up to a mistake,'' Jacobs said Wednesday, "you can move on. If you look at history, when you run from it, it rolls up in your face. What makes a man is a guy that faces up to that. … "You ask for forgiveness and move on.'' Jacobs, 31, after opening the year playing in the Diamondbacks' instructional league while he served the remainder of his suspension, spent the year at Reno, helping the team to the Class AAA championship. He was given the news about his promotion after the celebration, and he broke down in tears. "It's pretty overwhelming,'' Jacobs said. "I was pretty emotional. I didn't know if I'd get another opportunity. It's been a long time.'' Said Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers, who informed Jacobs of his promotion: "I almost broke into tears. . . . He earned it.'' Jacobs, who was a team leader, according to Reno manager Brett Butler, hit .279 with 18 homers and a .486 slugging percentage