(New York) New York Mets pitcher Drew Smith was suspended for 10 games by the Major Leaguers on Wednesday, becoming the fifth pitcher and second on his team to be disciplined for using banned sticky substances.
The penalty was announced by the league’s senior vice president for field operations, Michael Hill, a day after Smith entered during the seventh inning of a series game against the New York Yankees at Citi Field and was ejected before even making a pitch.
Smith declined to appeal the sanction to John McHale Jr., special assistant to baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, and began serving his sanction Wednesday night.
Smith was stopped for a routine check on his way to the mound. Within moments, several umpires and teammates crowded around the right-hander, and Mets manager Buck Showalter emerged from the dugout to join the discussion.
Smith held out his pitching hand and pleaded his case, but was ejected by first base umpire Bill Miller.
Miller said Smith’s hand was the stickiest he’s felt this season and the other three umpires agreed.
