Major League Baseball

Astros' Ronel Blanco suspended 10 games for foreign substance violation

Updated May. 15, 2024 4:52 p.m. ET

Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco has received a 10-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for violating MLB rules on the use of foreign substances.

Blanco was ejected from Tuesday night's game against the Oakland Athletics following a foreign substance check in the fourth inning. Third base umpire Laz Diaz, his umpiring crew, Blanco and Houston manager Joe Espada stood at the mound for a couple of minutes discussing the issue before the right-hander was ejected.

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco ejected for use of foreign substance on glove

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Blanco's glove was confiscated and first base umpire Erich Bacchus ran off the field with it and took it somewhere before returning.

Blanco held out his hands and patted them together in front of the umpires while they inspected his glove before he was ejected, and he did the motion again after he was tossed.

First-base umpire Erich Bacchus shared with reporters after Tuesday's game what he felt in Blanco's glove.

"I felt something inside the glove," Bacchus said. "It was the stickiest stuff I’ve felt on a glove since we’ve been doing this for a few years now."

Blanco denied that he used a foreign substance when he spoke with reporters.

"Just probably rosin I put on my left arm," Blanco said through a translator. "Maybe because of the sweat it got into the glove and that’s maybe what they found."

Blanco, who threw a no-hitter in his season debut, allowed four hits and struck out one in three scoreless innings Tuesday. He has a 2.09 ERA this season. The Astros led 1-0 when he was replaced by Tayler Scott.

MLB began cracking down on foreign substances in June 2021, and Blanco will likely face a 10-game suspension for the infraction.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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