Although Edwin Díaz was previously suspended for 10 games due to excessive stickiness on his hand, there is no evidence of him cheating.
A Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher, Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy, plays as a closer for the New York Mets in MLB.
He is known for his electric fastball and devastating slider and has been one of the most dominant relief pitchers in the league.
Recently, Edwin Díaz struggled in a 5-0 loss to the Miami Marlins on April 9, 2025.
He allowed three runs in the ninth inning before being pulled from the game after 30 pitches and two outs.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stated that there is “no concern at all” regarding Díaz’s health.
Some reports suggest that the cold weather may have affected his grip on the baseball, leading to his struggles.
Edwin Díaz’s 2024 Ejection Was Not Due To Cheating!
Edwin Díaz was ejected from a game on June 23, 2024, after umpires found a sticky substance on his hand during a routine check.
This occurred just before he was set to pitch the ninth inning for the New York Mets against the Chicago Cubs.
The umpires determined that the stickiness was excessive and not just from rosin and sweat, and he was removed from the game.
In a pool report after the match, Crapazza said:
I touched his hand,Grabbed his hand. The substance was extremely sticky. Discolored … it definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat. We’ve checked thousands of these. I know what that feeling is. This was very sticky.
Díaz denied using anything illegal, stating that his hand was sticky due to a combination of dirt, rock rosin, and sweat.
However, under MLB rules, even legal substances like rosin can become illegal if used excessively.
This incident falls under MLB’s foreign substance enforcement, but there is no indication that Diaz cheated.
Edwin Diaz was ejected after umpires inspected his hands and glove before throwing a pitch to the Cubs in the 9th inning. pic.twitter.com/rXugw13udM
— ESPN (@espn) June 24, 2024
However, while he may not have been chatting intentionally, the rules apply strictly to maintain fairness.
As a result, Díaz received an automatic 10-game suspension, which he could appeal. However, he did not appeal and served the full penalty.
This incident marks the third time in 15 months that a Mets pitcher has been ejected for a sticky substance violation.
Edwin Has Been Working To Regain His Dominant Form!
Aftermath, Edwin returned to the mound but struggled to regain his dominant form.
His velocity was slightly down, and his control remained inconsistent, leading to a few rough outings.
In his first game back, he allowed two runs in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, resulting in a blown save.
Over the next few appearances, Díaz showed improvement but continued to battle inconsistency, posting a 4.70 ERA in the weeks following his return.
His struggles reignited discussions about his sticky substance ejection, with some speculating whether the suspension affected his confidence or mechanics.
Despite the challenges, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in Díaz, stating that he was “working through adjustments” and would return to form soon.
His recent performances show improvement, with a 3.29 ERA over his last 10 games, compared to his season ERA of 3.52.
His strikeouts per 9 innings have also increased to 16.5 in his last 10 appearances, indicating he’s finding his rhythm again.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Edwin made his MLB debut on June 6, 2016, with the Seattle Mariners.
- In 2019, he was traded to the New York Mets.
- His brother, Alexis, is also a professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds.
