In March, Major League Baseball sent two different notes to clubs, saying it would intensify monitoring and enforcing rules prohibiting pitchers from applying foreign substances to baseballs.
Less than a week into the season, the last attempt to fight the league is put to the test. And a pitcher that has probably been more open than anyone else on the subject – right-wing Dodgers Trevor Bauer – is already drawing attention.
The referees from Bauer’s start against Oakland Athletics gathered several balls on Wednesday, which he threw during the game, according to some sources from the major league. The balls had visible markings and were sticky and were sent to the league’s offices for further inspection, sources said.