Executives say it’s common for pitchers to try to improve without getting caught

The recent 10-game suspension of New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz for violating MLB’s regulations on foreign substances is not an isolated incident, according to people within the league.

By USA todayBob Nightengale, league executives and scouts believe the sticky substance problem is a widespread problem that teams are finding ways to get around.

“The key is to try to see how they do it,” one veteran executive told Nightengale. “If umpires started checking infielders’ gloves, I think they’d figure it out.”

Diaz was set to pitch the ninth inning for the Mets with a 5-2 lead over the Chicago Cubs on June 23, but he was thrown out before throwing a pitch after umpires found a foreign substance when they inspected his hands and glove.

Diaz told reporters after the match that the substance was rosin, sweat and dirt.

“I always use the same thing,” he said. “I rub resin, I sweat and I put my hand in the dirt a little bit, because I need to have some grip on the ball. That’s what I explained to them, but they told me it was too sticky. »

Official MLB rules allow pitchers to use the rosin bag on their hand, wrist and forearm to help manage sweat, but they are “prohibited from applying it to their gloves or uniforms, nor are they permitted to combine the rosin with any other substance, such as sunscreen.”

The rule was adopted in 2021 to combat rising strikeout rates across the league, which were attributed to pitchers being able to increase spin rates on the ball by gaining better grip using various foreign substances.

Umpires perform inspections on starting pitchers between innings and/or when they are removed from a game. Relievers are inspected when they come into play. Inspections include examining the hand, glove, belt and hat, but umpires are also allowed to examine other areas of the uniform or body if deemed necessary.

An ejection for a foreign substance triggers an automatic 10-game suspension, although players are allowed to appeal. MLB has yet to overturn a suspension since the policy was implemented.

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco is the only other player to be suspended for a substance violation so far this season.