MLB/Major League Baseball Bans Four Minor League Pitchers including Sal Biasi(Winston-Salem Dash) and Marcus Evey(Kannapolis)

MLB bans 4 minor league pitchers for using foreign substances to doctor baseballs
from www.espn.com and from YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com

Four minor league pitchers have been suspended this season by Major League Baseball after being caught using illegal foreign substances to doctor baseballs, signaling a stronger crackdown in the game’s feeder system than in the big leagues during a historically dominant stretch by pitchers.

Chicago White Sox organization right-hander Marcus Evey of Low-A Kannapolis received a 10-game ban from MLB after he was ejected from a May 13 game when umpires discovered a foreign substance.

Three more players were suspended 10 games after being busted last weekend — Sal Biasi of High-A Winston Salem, also in the White Sox system; Kai-Wei Teng of High-A Eugene with the San Francisco Giants; and Mason Englert of Low-A Down East with the Texas Rangers.

The use of homebrewed tacky substances — mixtures often involve sunscreen and rosin — is suspected to have spiked in recent seasons as pitchers have learned the extent to which illicit sticky stuff can increase the spin rates on their fastballs, making the pitches more effective.

Many believe the proliferation of those grip aids is partially responsible for baseball’s offensive free fall. There have been six no-hitters this season, one shy of the record since 1900, and the league’s .236 batting average was the lowest through May 31 since 1968.

MLB has a regularly scheduled owners meeting Thursday, according to multiple reports, and the use of foreign substances is expected to be on the docket.

There has been increased oversight in the majors with efforts to inspect more baseballs this season, but the data collection has not led to penalties for players. Suspensions at the big league level are subject to bargaining with the players’ association. Minor league players don’t have a union.