MLB asks umpires for heightened sticky substance checks

By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is heightening in-game inspections by umpires for banned grip aides. League officials are concerned that use of foreign substances by pitchers increased again as time passed from a crackdown begun in June 2021. MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill writes in a memo: “Unfortunately, spin rates began to rise again during the 2022 season and we received reports of continued use of foreign substances on the field.” He adds: “Umpires have been instructed to increase the frequency and scope of foreign substance checks this year, including randomized checks of fingers.”