Mets pitcher Drew Smith ejected from game against Yankees for ‘foreign substance’ on hands, 10-game suspension
Yesterday, Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations, announced that New York Mets pitcher Drew Smith has received a 10-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for violating the prohibitions on foreign substances, which resulted in his ejection prior to the top of the seventh inning of his Club’s Tuesday, June 13 game against the New York Yankees at Citi Field.
And although the infraction for “foreign substances” might sound drug-related, it’s not. The foreign substance has to do with claims that he was using “a sticky substance on his hands,” according to CNN.
Smith came to the mound in the 7th inning but was tossed from the game before ever delivering a single pitch. His suspension became effective on the evening of June 14 as the Mets continued their home series with the Yankees. The pitcher has declined to appeal the disciplinary action.
“They said both of my hands were too sticky,” Smith said following the Mets’ 7-6 loss.
“Really surprised, because I haven’t done anything different all year. Sweat and rosin. I don’t know what else to say. Nothing changed. It’s just, I think the process is so arbitrary. It can change from one crew to the other, and I think that’s the main issue.” ~ ESPN
For more on Mets pitcher Drew Smith being ejected from the game for “failing an illegal substance check” when coming in to pitch against the Yankees, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source: MLB) / (Cover photo of Smith being tossed from the game, Image credit: Twitter)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
