Video: Mets' Jacob deGrom Checked for Substances on 1st Day of MLB Enforcement
June 21, 2021
The first player to get checked for foreign substances on the mound by MLB just happened to be the consensus best pitcher in baseball.
Following an eight-pitch, one-two-three inning to kick things off against the Atlanta Braves on Monday at Citi Field, umpires inspected New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom for any grip enhancers as he walked off the mound.
DeGrom seemed to handle it well, flashing a smile to his teammates as the umpires looked at his hat, glove and belt.
Monday marked the implementation of MLB's enhanced enforcement of previously existing rules regarding grip enhancers. And with Mets-Braves serving as the first game of the day, deGrom became the first player to undergo the new procedures.
Six of deGrom's first eight pitches were thrown harder than 99 miles per hour, though that's nothing unusual for the righty.
Atlanta Braves starter Kyle Muller was also checked by umpires on the field after he pitched the bottom of the first inning.
