Edwin Díaz ejected after checking for a sticky substance; Suspension to follow

A seemingly normal Sunday evening changed very quickly in the bottom of the ninth inning during the series finale between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. During Sunday’s rubber game at Wrigley Field Edwin Díaz he entered a three-inning ball game to save the day and was promptly ejected before he even threw a pitch.

Given that Díaz was scheduled to close out the game, his hands were checked immediately after entering the game. Crew lead umpire Vic Carapazza then threw the Mets closer after unsuccessfully arguing his case. Manager Carlos Mendoza joined the conversation, but Díaz was ultimately sent off and Drew Smith replaced him. The Mets were able to hold on for a 5-2 victory.

After the match, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that head judge of the crew Vic Carapazza he said Díaz had too much rosin on his hand, which led to his ejection. However, after the match, Carapazza himself was quoted as saying: “It definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat. We have checked thousands of such cases. I know what that feeling is. It was very sticky.”

Meanwhile, Edwin Díaz himself confirmed in a post-match interview that there was a combination of sweat, rosin and a bit of dirt on his hand. It is no different from other games.

Rosin itself is not a “foreign substance”. However, youmpirs can rule rosin is a prohibited substance if used in excessive amounts or on parts of the uniform other than the hands, wrists and forearms. Apparently that’s how Sunday’s game was decided.

Throwing a sticky substance will result in a 10-game suspension. These suspensions can be appealed, however an appeal regarding the disposal of a sticky substance has not yet been heard. Importantly, the rule is that clubs cannot fill a squad spot when a player is suspended for throwing a sticky substance. By the time Díaz is able to return to the field, the Mets will be missing 25 players.

Both Max Scherzer and Drew Smith were ejected after sticky substance testing in 2023 for the Mets. Both served 10-game suspensions before returning.