NEW YORK — New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán was suspended for 10 games Wednesday by Major League Baseball and fined for violating the sport's prohibition of foreign substances on the mound.
The penalty was announced following Germán's ejection in the fourth inning Tuesday night at Toronto for what an umpire said was "the stickiest hand I've ever felt."
"My fingers had a hard time coming off his palm," crew chief James Hoye explained after the game.
The punishment was imposed by Michael Hill, MLB's senior vice president for on-field operations. Germán did not appeal, and his suspension began with Wednesday night's game in Toronto.
Germán cannot be replaced on the roster while he is suspended. Barring rainouts, he will be eligible to return May 28 against San Diego.
"He went over the line that umpires deemed and now we've got to live with the consequences of that," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday in Toronto. "No one player needs to carry this load. We'll share it all and we'll do it together."
Yankees right-hander Luis Severino is expected to be activated off the injured list Sunday to start in Germán's place against the Cincinnati Reds.
A two-time All-Star, the 29-year-old Severino has not pitched for New York this season because of a right lat strain. He allowed two runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings Tuesday in a rehab start with Double-A Somerset.
