Jun 24, 2024, 11:59 PM ET
New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz was suspended 10 games for using a foreign substance and being ejected before pitching against the Chicago Cubs
He closer of the New York Mets, Edwin Diazwas suspended 10 games and fined with a undisclosed amountafter rape the prohibitions about foreign substancesMajor League Baseball announced on Monday.
The suspension, issued by MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill, will begin Tuesday when the Mets host the New York Yankees at Citi Field, unless he appeals the discipline. If Díaz appeals to MLB special assistant John McHale Jr., the sanction will be suspended until the disciplinary process is completed.
Diaz was ejected before taking the mound in the ninth inning of the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night by umpire chief Vic Carapazza after a substance was found. sticky and discolored on Díaz’s right hand.
Díaz, 30, told reporters that he only uses rosin, sweat and dirt on his hands.
“I always wear the same thing,” he said. “I rub rosin, sweat and put my hand in the dirt a little bit so I can get a little grip on the ball… I was very surprised because I didn’t have anything on my hand, glove or belt. They always check everything.”
Carapazza said in a group report after the game that it was “definitely not rosin or sweat” on Diaz’s hand.
“We’ve checked thousands of these,” Carapazza said. “I know what that feeling is. This was so sticky.”
Both Díaz and the manager of the Mets, Carlos Mendozathey said the umpire said he thought the pitcher had too much of a combination of rosin, sweat and dirt on his pitching hand.
“The rules are the rules and they made the decision to kick him out,” Mendoza said.
Diaz, a two-time All-Star, has struggled this season, with just seven saves and a 4.70 ERA. He missed all of last season with a knee injury suffered while celebrating a Puerto Rican victory in the World Baseball Classic, and spent about two weeks on the disabled list this season with a shoulder problem before being released. reinstated on June 13.
Diaz became the eighth pitcher suspended for sticky stuff since MLB cracked down on pitchers trying to use foreign substances to improve their grip and spin rate in 2021. Three of them have been the Mets, including Max Scherzer and Drew Smith last year.
Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros was suspended on May 15.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press contributed to that report.
