Yankees SP facing likely suspension after foreign substance ejection

New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German. John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees SP facing likely suspension after umpire says he had stickiest hand he'd ever felt

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/17/23

New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo Germán was ejected from his team's 6-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday after umpires determined that he had an illegal substance on his hand. Following the game, crew chief James Hoye was outspoken about Germán's substance check, which occurred ahead of the bottom of the fourth inning.

Crew chief James Hoye said that Domingo German’s hand was the “stickiest I’ve ever felt” and that it was “definitely not rosin.”
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 17, 2023

"It's not rosin. It was not rosin. It was definitely not rosin. Because I've felt hands with rosin. That wasn't rosin. It was extremely sticky. And rosin usually is kind of like a little tackiness. This was sticky, as in my fingers had a hard time coming off his palm."
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 17, 2023

This wasn't the 30-year-old hurler's first episode with a suspicious sticky substance this season, as Germán was questioned during an April game against the Minnesota Twins as well. James Hoye was the crew chief for that contest as well.

This is Domingo German's second brush with a check for illegal substances this season. On April 15, umpires instructed him to wash his hands because of excess rosin. He faces a 10-game suspension. #Yankees
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 17, 2023

The righty had started April's game by not allowing a hit until the sixth inning and finished that contest with 6 1/3 innings pitched and only one earned run on three hits and no walks allowed with 11 strikeouts. Germán had pitched three scoreless innings and notched two strikeouts prior to Tuesday's ejection.

He's gone 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA, career-best 0.89 WHIP and 49 strikeouts across 48 innings covering nine starts this season.

It was reported in February that MLB would be cracking down on pitchers using "sticky stuff" this season to aid their performance.

New York Mets ace Max Scherzer recently returned from a 10-game suspension for an apparent high "level of stickiness" that was "so extreme that it was inconsistent with the use of rosin and/or sweat alone," according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

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