Rays' Tyler Glasnow blames MLB crackdown for UCL injury

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow (20) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Rays RHP Tyler Glasnow blames MLB crackdown on sticky substances for UCL injury

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/16/21

It's probably safe to say that Tyler Glasnow is not a fan of Major League Baseball's decision to crack down on pitchers' use of sticky substances.

The Tampa Bay Rays right-hander said Tuesday that he stopped using sunscreen, the only foreign substance he claims he has ever used, two starts ago and felt sore the next day because he had to adjust his grips.

He didn't use any sticky substance again against the Chicago White Sox on Monday and felt something "pop" in his arm. The 27-year-old suffered a partially torn UCL and is hoping he can avoid Tommy John surgery.

Glasnow added that he understands what the league is trying to do in eliminating foreign substances. However, he said he wishes they did it during the offseason to allow pitchers to adjust better.

Tyler Glasnow sounds off on MLB's foreign substance crackdown and how it may have led to injury pic.twitter.com/47rcTnpk0l
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) June 15, 2021

According to Glasnow, batters don't have a problem with pitchers using sunscreen and rosin. Hitters likely don't mind pitchers using foreign substances because they'd rather avoid getting hit by a 90-plus mph fastball.

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Trevor Bauer shared similar feelings, saying a change shouldn't have occurred midseason:

To be clear, the memo is fine long term, and it will serve to level the playing field. That is a good thing. But to implement it mid season when for 3 months you’ve promised players and teams that nothing about your chosen enforcement of the rules would change this year and
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) June 15, 2021

"Actively encouraged players to continue playing how that have in the past, that’s a lie," Bauer added in a subsequent tweet. "There’s no integrity in that. So save it with the competitive integrity bull---t @mlb. All you care about is the bottom line of the business, and public perception negatively affecting it."

The use of foreign substances will continue to be a topic of discussion throughout the 2021 campaign and into the offseason. If more pitchers suffer injuries similar to Glasnow's, the league is going to have to change things up again.

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