New York Mets right-handed pitcher Drew Smith (30-USA), who was ejected from a game for allegedly applying a foreign substance to his hand, has been suspended for 10 games.

Local media, including MLB.com, reported on Friday (July 15) that “the MLB Office of the Commissioner has suspended Smith for 10 games and fined him,” adding, “The Mets will not be able to fill Smith’s spot. The Mets will have to play 10 games without a player.”

Smith was pitching in the top of the seventh inning of the Mets’ 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) home game against the New York Yankees at Citi Field in New York City on April 14.

The umpires inspected Smith’s hand, and assistant umpire Bill Miller found a foreign object on his hand and ordered him out.

“I don’t know what the substance was, but obviously his hands were stickier than normal,” Miller wrote in his ejection.

At the time, Smith raised his right hand to protest to the four umpires to “take a closer look,” but was not granted. After entering the dugout, he continued to hold his right hand out to his teammates to express his frustration.

On the 15th, Smith said in a media interview that the foreign body inspection process was “too one-sided,” adding, “I didn’t use a foreign body, my hand wasn’t sticky. It was a very subjective decision by the umpire,” he said.

“I touched the rosin bag, which is allowed by Major League Baseball, and I didn’t apply any foreign substance,” he said, adding, “I accept the punishment because there’s nothing I can do about it, but it’s ridiculous.”

Teammate Max Scherzer (39-USA), who was ejected on April 20 for using a foreign substance and suspended for 10 games, also defended his teammate, saying, “I touched Smith’s hand and it didn’t feel sticky at all,” adding, “I’m very upset with the umpires’ decision.”메이저사이트

Major League Baseball will begin testing pitchers for the use of foreign substances in June 2021.

“Smith becomes the fifth pitcher to receive a 10-game suspension for using a foreign substance, joining Ector Santiago (Seattle Mariners), Caleb Smith (Arizona Diamondbacks-over 2021), Domingo Herrmann (New York Yankees) and Scherzer (over 2023),” MLB.com explained.