Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith suspended 10 games for foreign substance on glove

Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Caleb Smith was suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for having a foreign substance on his glove during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies last week.

Smith's suspension, which MLB announced Tuesday, is the second this season as the league continues to crack down on pitchers using sticky substances to get a better grip on the baseball.

The 30-year-old Smith elected to appeal his 10-game suspension, which was set to begin when the D-Backs played the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

"For me, of course I'm frustrated," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. "I'm hurt when the player hurts. That's how I wear it. I'm emotionally attached to these guys.

"With Caleb, I think he's extremely frustrated. He's frustrated because he's been accused of some wrongdoing that he thinks is not justified. That's why I think he wants to appeal. He wants to be heard. He wants to get his story out there."

Umpires confiscated Smith's glove after he came off the field in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game against the Phillies. He was later ejected.

The Diamondbacks won't be able to fill Smith's spot on the 26-man roster during the suspension.

"I've continued to provide a safe place for him to come into my office and vent, and talk about it," Lovullo said. "I've had some really good conversations with him. I'll continue to stand by him based on the information he continues to give me and some of the comments he's sharing with me."

Umpires are checking all pitchers during games for illegal sticky substances since MLB's crackdown began in late June.

Smith has a 4-8 record and 5.20 ERA this season, his second with the Diamondbacks after the Miami Marlins traded him last year. The left-hander previously pitched for the New York Yankees.

Seattle Mariners left-hander Hector Santiago, who was the first pitcher suspended under MLB's new policy on foreign substances, had his 10-game ban -- issued last month -- upheld after an appeal.