Mariners Pitcher Hector Santiago Suspended 10 Games for Foreign Substance on Glove

Hector Santiago is the first pitcher to be suspended since MLB began its crackdown on foreign substances on June 21.

Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago has been suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for a foreign substance found on his glove against the White Sox on Sunday. Santiago will appeal the ruling, and he will be allowed to play until the appeal process is complete.

Santiago, 33, was the first player to be ejected for pitch doctoring since MLB began enforcing the new rules against foreign substances. The new rules included umpire checks on pitchers every few innings. 

Umpire Phil Cuzzi found a sticky substance on Santiago's glove when he was checked after being taken out in the fifth inning on Sunday. The glove was then put in a plastic bag by an MLB authenticator for testing.

Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago becomes the first player to get ejected for a foreign substance violation since MLB's crackdown on sticky stuff

(via @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/2bLJy53Miw

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 27, 2021

After the game, Santiago denied using any illegal substance. He said was using rosin on his pitching hand, which is allowed. However, it's only allowed on a pitcher's throwing hand, not their glove. 

"Once they take it back and check it, it's just sweat and rosin," Santiago said on Sunday, according to ESPN. "If they're going to do all this science stuff, it's going to be sweat and rosin. We'll be all right.

It's possible after Santiago covered himself with Rosin and began to sweat some of the Rosin could have made contact with the glove. Even if Santiago does not win the appeal, he could get the suspension reduced. 

According to Sports Illustrated's investigative report earlier this month, one retired pitcher estimated that 80 to 90% of MLB pitchers were using some sort of sticky substance before the crackdown was announced on June 15. Enforcement began July 21.