Stay updated with breaking news from Marcus Evey. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
It’s not yet apparent how the league hopes to spur teams to self-check their own substance use. MLB is leaving open the possibility of suspending players when provided proof of altered baseballs.
Four minor league pitchers have been suspended this season by Major League Baseball after being caught using illegal foreign substances to doctor baseballs, signaling a stronger crackdown in the game's feeder system than in the big leagues during a historically dominant stretch by pitchers. The use of homebrewed tacky substances â mixtures often involve sunscreen and rosin â is suspected to have spiked in recent seasons as pitchers have learned the extent to which illicit sticky stuff can increase the spin rates on their fastballs, making the pitches more effective. Many believe the...