Many fans think of Gerrit Cole as the most affected pitcher after MLB’s decision to crack down on the use of foreign substances on the ball last June. But that unofficial title should belong to Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who was far from his dominant self after the league implemented the new restrictions.
On June 14, it came out that pitchers who were caught using substances such as “Spider Tack” during games would face ejection and a 10-game suspension. The use of the famous “sticky stuff” is directly associated with increased spin rates, but most notably, with a better grip.