Hector Santiago Officially First Pitcher Ejected With Sticky Substance Found In Glove

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago has been ejected after getting caught with a sticky substance as part of the MLB’s crackdown on illegal adhesives used by pitchers. Seattle's manager Scott Servais was also kicked out of the game.

https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1409232791057813506?s=20

Santiago's glove was checked between innings during Sunday's contest against the Chicago White Sox. After further evaluation, the umpires kept the glove and announced Santiago's ejection from the game. Pitchers caught with a foreign substance are subjected to a suspension of 10 games due to the violation.

https://twitter.com/StickyCheck/status/1409231399433932806?s=20

The left-handed pitcher becomes the first player to get busted since the inspections were implemented by the MLB commissioner in early June. Umpires must now check for foreign substances in the middle of games.

As the MLB witnesses an exceptional year in pitching, the new guidelines from Manfred have been a flop for some fans and players who think the crackdown on the substances halt games and encourage opposing managers to call for a check on pitchers. Such was the case between Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer and Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow has been outspoken in his opposition to the new policy after suffering a UCL tear on June 14 against the White Sox. Glasnow previously used a form of resin and lotion for sustained grip on the ball during games. The change in guidelines forced Glasnow to alter his pitching, which may have contributed to his injury.

"I just threw 80-something innings, and then you just told me I can’t use anything in the middle of the year?" Glasnow said to reporters following his injury, which may keep him sidelined until the playoffs. "I have to change everything I’ve been doing the entire season. Everything out of the window, I had to start doing something completely new."