New York Mets nearer Edwin Díaz has been suspended 10 video games and fined an undisclosed quantity after violating prohibitions on international substances, Main League Baseball introduced Monday.
The suspension, issued by MLB senior vice chairman of on-field operations Michael Hill, will start Tuesday, when the Mets will host the New York Yankees at Citi Area, after Diaz determined to not enchantment the self-discipline.
Díaz was ejected earlier than he took the mound within the ninth inning of the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night time by crew chief Vic Carapazza after a sticky, discolored substance was discovered on Díaz’s proper hand.
SeasonPitcher2024Edwin Díaz<<2024Ronel Blanco2023Robert Suarez2023Drew Smith<<2023Domingo Germán2023Max Scherzer<<2021Caleb Smith2021Héctor Santiago>>Whereas pitching for Mets– ESPN Stats & Data
Díaz, 30, instructed reporters he makes use of solely rosin, sweat and filth on his arms.
“I take advantage of the identical factor, at all times,” he mentioned. “I rub rosin, sweat and I put my hand within the filth slightly bit so I can have some grip on the ball. … I used to be actually shocked as a result of I did not have something on my hand, glove or belt. They at all times test every thing.”
Carapazza mentioned in a pool report after the sport it “undoubtedly wasn’t rosin and sweat” on Díaz’s hand.
“We have checked hundreds of those,” Carapazza mentioned. “I do know what that feeling is. This was very sticky.”
Each Díaz and Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned the umpire mentioned he thought the pitcher had an excessive amount of of a mix of rosin, sweat and filth on his throwing hand.
“The principles are the principles, and so they made the choice to throw him out,” Mendoza mentioned.
Díaz, a two-time All-Star, has struggled this season, with simply seven saves and a 4.70 ERA. He missed all of final season with a knee damage suffered whereas celebrating a Puerto Rico win within the World Baseball Basic and spent about two weeks on the injured record this season with a shoulder problem earlier than being reinstated June 13.
Díaz grew to become the eighth pitcher suspended for sticky stuff since MLB cracked down on pitchers making an attempt to make use of international substances to enhance their grip and spin charges in 2021. Three of them have been Mets, together with Max Scherzer and Drew Smith final yr.
The Houston Astros’ Ronel Blanco was suspended Could 15.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and The Related Press contributed to this report.