Seattle Mariners left-hander Hector Santiago made the wrong kind of history Sunday, becoming the first MLB pitcher ejected for suspected foreign substance use.
The league ramped up enforcement last week surrounding the use of foreign substances, which pitchers claim helps better control pitches. But the “sticky stuff” also increases spin rate and velocity of pitches, and MLB believes that is part of the reason offenses have been more muted than recent years.
The enforcement includes random checks of pitchers between innings. Starters are checked more than once during their outings, and relievers are checked when they exit or at the end of an inning. Santiago departed the Mariners’ 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the fifth inning, having thrown 2 1/3 innings. He struck out four, walked two and allowed one run on three hits.
UH OH!! Looks like we may have our first POSITIVE substance check. Hector Santiago’s glove has been put into some sort of bag to be shipped off for inspection. What a time we’re living in. pic.twitter.com/ZyDCtJ7Fim
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) June 27, 2021
The umpires checked Santiago’s glove when he left, and they confiscated the glove as evidence. An MLB official put the glove inside a plastic bag for further evaluation. Santiago was then ejected, and if his glove is confirmed to have a foreign substance, he’ll be suspended for 10 games.
“He was ejected for when his glove was inspected, for having a foreign substance that was sticky on the inside palm of his glove,” crew chief Tom Hallion told a pool reporter.
Santiago said what the umpires found was a combination of rosin and sweat. He had used rosin to stop the sweat from dripping on both his arms on a humid day in Chicago.
“This is part of it, this is what we have to do, this is part of the game, we’re going to get caught if we’re going to use any substances,” Santiago said. “My mindset was just use rosin and attack the zone, that’s what I’m trying to do. I know that I didn’t use anything today.”
Santiago entered Sunday’s game with a 2.45 ERA. The 33-year-old had thrown 14 2/3 frames before Sunday, allowing 19 runs while striking out 34 batters.
This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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