Umpires Phil Cuzzi (left) and Mark Ripperger check Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Hector Santiago's glove for illegal substance before ejecting him in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Mariners left-hander Hector Santiago explains foreign substance ejection

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/27/21

Seattle Mariners left-hander Hector Santiago was ejected from Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox for an apparent foreign substance violation.

He was tossed from the game in the fifth inning after umpires confiscated his glove. After the game, the 33-year-old said nothing he used was illegal, adding that he used rosin on both his glove and pitching hand.

Via ESPN's Jesse Rogers:

Hector Santiago: “He said he felt some sticky stuff on the inside of the glove. All I used was rosin. I used it on both sides, trying to keep that sweat from dripping down to the hands.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 27, 2021

Santiago: “What they told me was you can’t use rosin on the glove hand. When I use rosin I dab on both sides. The umpire said you couldn’t use it on the glove hand.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 27, 2021

Santiago's glove will be sent to MLB for further testing. If he used more than just rosin, he'll be subject to a 10-day suspension under the league's new foreign substance protocols.

Santiago entered Sunday's game with a 2.45 ERA, 1.023 WHIP and 19 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.

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