The Major League Baseball announced on Monday that New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz has been suspended for 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for violating prohibitions on foreign substances. The suspension was issued by MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill and will begin on Tuesday.
Game Incident
Diaz was ejected before entering the game in the ninth inning of the Mets‘ 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night after a sticky, discolored substance was found on his right hand. Crew chief Vic Carapazza made the decision to eject Diaz, stating that it was „definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat“ on Diaz’s hand.
Player’s Response
Diaz defended himself, claiming that he only uses rosin, sweat, and dirt on his hands to improve his grip on the ball. He expressed shock at the ejection, stating that he didn’t have any prohibited substances on his hand, glove, or belt. Despite Diaz’s denial, both he and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza respected the decision made by the umpire.
Diaz, a two-time All-Star, has had a challenging season with just seven saves and a 4.70 ERA. He missed the entire previous season due to a knee injury and also spent time on the injured list this season with a shoulder issue. Diaz’s performance has not been up to his usual standard, leading to speculation about the impact of his struggles on the team’s overall performance.
Diaz is the eighth pitcher to be suspended for using foreign substances since MLB implemented stricter rules in 2021. This crackdown aims to prevent pitchers from gaining an unfair advantage by improving their grip and spin rates using prohibited substances. Three Mets pitchers, including Max Scherzer and Drew Smith, were also suspended for similar violations last year. Furthermore, the Houston Astros‘ Ronel Blanco received a suspension on May 15 for a similar offense.
Edwin Diaz’s suspension serves as a reminder of the consequences of violating MLB’s rules on foreign substances. The incident has raised questions about the use of such substances in baseball and the impact on players‘ performances. It remains to be seen how Diaz’s suspension will affect the Mets‘ bullpen and his future in the league.
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