The recent suspension of New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has once again brought the issue of foreign substances in baseball to the forefront. Major League Baseball announced that Díaz has been suspended for 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for violating the prohibitions on foreign substances. This suspension was issued by MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill and is set to begin on Tuesday.
The suspension stemmed from an incident during the Mets’ game against the Chicago Cubs, where Díaz was ejected before he took the mound in the ninth inning. Crew chief Vic Carapazza found a sticky, discolored substance on Díaz’s right hand, leading to the ejection. Díaz has maintained that he only uses rosin, sweat, and dirt on his hands to improve his grip on the ball. However, Carapazza stated that it “definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat” on Díaz’s hand, leading to the suspension.
Struggles on the Field
Díaz, a two-time All-Star, has struggled this season, with just seven saves and a 4.70 ERA. He missed all of last season due to a knee injury and spent time on the injured list this season with a shoulder issue. This suspension adds to the challenges that Díaz has faced in recent years, impacting his performance on the field.
MLB has been cracking down on pitchers’ use of foreign substances to improve grip and spin rates since 2021. Díaz is one of eight pitchers who have been suspended for using sticky stuff, with three of them being from the Mets organization. This highlights the league’s commitment to enforcing the rules and ensuring fair play on the field.
The suspension of Edwin Díaz serves as a reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding foreign substances in baseball. While Díaz has denied any wrongdoing, the league’s decision to suspend him reflects their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game. As the season continues, it will be interesting to see how players and teams adapt to the new enforcement measures put in place by MLB.
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