Astros' Ronel Blanco Suspended 10 Games for Foreign Substance Violation

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco has been handed a 10-game suspension by Major League Baseball (MLB) after being ejected from a game against the Oakland Athletics for having a foreign substance on his glove. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, and the suspension was announced the following day by Michael Hill, MLB’s Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations. Blanco was also fined an undisclosed amount.

The ejection took place at the start of the fourth inning when first-base umpire Erich Bacchus conducted a routine glove check and discovered what he described as "the stickiest stuff" he had ever felt on a glove. Bacchus, along with the rest of the umpiring crew, including crew chief Laz Diaz, examined the glove and decided to eject Blanco from the game. The glove was confiscated for further investigation.

Blanco, 30, has been a standout performer for the Astros this season, boasting a 4-0 record with a 2.09 ERA and having thrown the season's first no-hitter in his debut start against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1. Despite his impressive statistics, the discovery of the foreign substance has cast a shadow over his achievements.

The use of foreign substances by pitchers has been a contentious issue in baseball for years. In 2021, MLB introduced stricter enforcement policies to curb the use of sticky substances that enhance grip and spin rates, giving pitchers an unfair advantage. These substances can significantly affect the movement of the ball, making it harder for batters to hit. The crackdown has led to several high-profile ejections and suspensions, including those of Max Scherzer and Domingo Germán.

Blanco and the Astros have maintained that the substance found on his glove was a mixture of rosin and sweat. Rosin, a legal substance derived from tree sap, is commonly used by pitchers to improve grip. However, MLB rules prohibit its application on gloves or non-pitching hands. Blanco, speaking through a translator, denied using any illegal substance, stating, "Just probably rosin I put on my left arm. Maybe because of the sweat it got into the glove and that’s maybe what they found."

Astros general manager Dana Brown supported Blanco's explanation, noting that the pitcher "sweats profusely" and suggesting that the combination of sweat and rosin might have created the sticky sensation. "It’s the umpire’s call," Brown said. "He made the judgment that he thought it was a sticky substance, so we’re at the mercy of what his judgment is."

Despite initially considering an appeal, Blanco decided to accept the suspension to avoid prolonging the issue. "Ronel Blanco is a good human being, he’s a good dude, and he’s worked his butt off to get into the starting rotation," Brown said. "I think he sees it as, ‘Look, I don’t want to extend this any longer. I want to get back to the business of pitching.’"

The suspension will have immediate implications for the Astros, who have been struggling with injuries in their pitching rotation. The team, which has used a six-man rotation, will now have to adjust to a five-man rotation during Blanco's absence. This comes at a challenging time for the Astros, who are currently fourth in the American League West with a 17-25 record.

The incident has reignited discussions about the enforcement of MLB's foreign substance rules and the balance between maintaining fair play and allowing pitchers to use substances like rosin to ensure safety and control. As the league continues to navigate these issues, the case of Ronel Blanco serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in regulating the use of foreign substances in baseball.