The Los Angeles Angels have fired their visiting clubhouse manager after an internal investigation confirmed allegations that he was providing ball-doctoring substances to opposing pitchers, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. The firing was initially reported by the Los Angeles Times' Maria Torres.
The Angels were reportedly tipped off by Major League Baseball that Brian “Bubba” Harkins allegedly had been providing the sticky substances to improve opponents’ grip on the baseball.
The substance reportedly was a melted-down pine-tar solution and rosin, per ESPN.
Harkins reportedly had been employed by the Angels for more than 30 years, hired in 1981 as a bat boy and returning to the team as clubhouse manager in 1986.