Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow suffered a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor tendon strain on Monday. The following day, Glasnow participated in a video conference with reporters. When asked if he thought MLB’s crackdown on foreign substances played a role, the big right-hander didn’t hold back.
“100 percent I believe that contributed to me getting hurt. No doubt, without a doubt.” After a brief pause, Glasnow went on to say that he does use a formula of sunscreen and rosin. He also said that the use of some form of substance is almost universal throughout the sport.
“I have used sticky stuff before. It’s ridiculous that it seems, like this whole public perception of, like, oh it’s just a select few people. Your favorite pitcher, probably 50 years ago was using something too.”
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
His honestly was refreshing after Gerrit Cole was taken aback, and then appeared to malfunction when asked about it.
However, it should be noted, Cole was asked specifically about Spider Tack, a solution that many believe increases RPM. Glasnow framed the use of some kind of sticky material as necessary to grip the baseballs being used.
“Like, if you felt these balls, how inconsistent they were, you have to use something.”
Health & Safety?
He also categorized the sticky stuff more as a player health & safety tool rather than a way to gain an advantage. Nonetheless, Glasnow said we went “cold turkey” starting two weeks ago.
“And before that start, I remember when all this stuff came out I was talking to people and talking to doctors. And they were like, the thing that MLB maybe doesn’t realize or that players don’t realize is like, what is the injury? Like what is the prevention, maybe they’ll add to injuries.”
Tyler Glasnow, 98mph Fastball and 90mph Slider, Overlay. ? pic.twitter.com/uBwIrqkI2K
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 15, 2021
Perhaps hearing how that could’ve sounded to fans Glasnow says he rejected that idea until he experienced how he felt.
“In my mind, that sounds dumb,” Glasnow said. “That sounds like an excuse a player would use to make sure he could use sticky stuff. I threw to the Nationals … I woke up the next day and I was sore in places I didn’t even know I had muscles in.”
Tyler Glasnow, 99mph ⛽️
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 9, 2021
10th K thru 5. pic.twitter.com/gqEosraVQm
He then talked about how he was forced to change his grip on the ball for different pitches.
“I switched my fastball grip and my curveball grip,” an animated Glasnow said on a videoconference with reporters. “I had to put my fastball deeper into my hand and grip it way harder. Instead of holding my curveball at the tip of my fingers, I had to dig it deeper into my hand.
“I’m choking the s— out of all my pitches.”
Too Soon?
He did stop short of saying it’s all MLB’s fault but he clearly wasn’t thrilled about the timing.
“Do it in the offseason. Give us a chance to adjust to it. But I just threw 80 innings, then you tell me I can’t use anything in the middle of the year. I have to change everything I’ve been doing the entire season. I’m telling you I truly believe that’s why I got hurt.”
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow blamed MLB’s crackdown on foreign substance use for his UCL injury:
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 16, 2021
“I truly believe 100% that’s why I got hurt.”
?: https://t.co/CsSeSRsHfs pic.twitter.com/GFyT08WLJ3
A skeptic might say that Glasnow is using his injury to manipulate the situation but that’s not what I saw. I saw a frustrated young man who just had the carpet pulled out from underneath him. He was having the best season of his career and it’s now over.
“I’m sitting here, my lifelong dream. I want to go out and win a Cy Young,” he stated. “I want to be an All-Star and now it’s s— on. Now it’s over. Now I have to rehab and try to get back in the playoffs. I’m clearly frustrated.”
