Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco was ejected and suspended for 10 games Tuesday night for having a sticky substance in his glove.
MLB announced the expected suspensions Wednesday, including an undisclosed fine for violating the league’s strict policy on sticky substances for pitchers.
GM Dana Brown said via The Athletic that Blanco will not appeal MLB’s suspension.
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Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros is ejected in the fourth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park in Houston on May 14, 2024. (Logan Riley/Getty Images)
Blanco was pitching Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics when umpires inspected his glove before the start of the fourth inning. The sticky substance appears to have been one of the most egregious violations seen in gloves since the league mandated starting checks on pitchers at the start of innings and between innings.
According to The Athletic, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters after his team’s 2-1 win over AL West opponent Blanco that he had a mixture of sweat and rosin in his gloves. He said it was attached.
Astros’ Ronel Blanco felt the ‘stickiest thing’ in his glove since crackdown, umpire says
Pitchers are only allowed to apply rosin on their pitching hands.
The 30-year-old has been somewhat of a sensation for the Astros since joining the team’s starting rotation. He made his first start against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, and pitched the league’s first no-hitter of the season.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco pitches in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Blanco started eight games and had a 2.09 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 21 walks in 47 1/3 innings.
He pitched three scoreless innings Tuesday despite allowing four hits and one walk. He also struck out four batters before the night ended early.
Blanco’s suspension began immediately as the Astros continued their series against the Athletics in Houston on Wednesday night.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco reacts after being ejected before the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. (Eric Williams/USA Today Sports)
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The Astros had been using a six-man rotation, so with Blanco suspended, they will be moving to a five-man rotation.
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