Busted! We Have Our First Foreign Substances Ejection

There had been 668 "sticky stuff" checks since the crackdown began last Monday, according to Jayson Stark. And not a single ejection. Until now. Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago etched his name in the books when umpires confiscated his glove and gave him the boot in the 5th inning.

We got our first sticky ejection, folks. We obviously don’t have all the facts yet, but you’ve gotta be a special kind of stupid to use anything while the block is as hot as it is right now. pic.twitter.com/9d0MSdxaP8

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) June 27, 2021

This is what happens when your glove gets confiscated for foreign substances. pic.twitter.com/BylsTuhvso

— MLB Foreign Substance Checks (@StickyCheck) June 27, 2021

Santiago insists it was just sweat and rosin on his glove. Nevertheless, he faces a possible 10-game suspension, not to mention buying a new glove since his is now in the hands of the major league's sticky stuff officers.  

The 33-year-old had pitched well for the Mariners this season, in limited action, with a 2.45 ERA over 14 2/3 innings, along with 19 strikeouts. 

Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports