New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German will not appeal his 10-game suspension ruling for using a foreign substance during a game against the Blue Jays Tuesday. German denies using a foreign substance but does not intend to go through MLB’s hearing process.
The Yankees pitcher was ejected before the start of the fourth inning when umpire D.J. Reyburn objected to the substance on his hands during a routine check.
“The umpire from first base (Reyburn) was the one that was pressing on my hand. He felt like it was too much, and he called over the other umpires to verify,” Germán said through a translator. “I didn’t get a clear explanation at the moment. And then it ended up throwing me out of the game.”
German also claimed that a brown substance on his pants was chewing tobacco. As for the substance on German’s hands, crew chief James Hoye told reporters that it was the stickiest he had ever felt. He also claimed that it could not have been rosin.
“They felt it was too sticky and they ran him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. “Obviously it’s not ok. But also we’re talking, what is the line? So it’s difficult. And obviously, it raised to a level — and of course, he’s been in the crosshairs a bit – but it was raised to a level that they didn’t feel was good. And ultimately, that’s Domingo’s responsibility we’re in a better position there.”
German becomes the fourth pitcher in 2023 to be suspended for using an illegal substance. New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was the last to be disciplined on April 20, despite the fact that he adamantly claimed that he was merely using rosin and sweat.
Since MLB announced that it would be cracking down on pitcher’s substances more, many players have complained that the new policies are impossible to enforce consistently.
