Report: MLB investigating D-backs over use of electronic watch in wild-card game
The MLB may be witnessing a case of lightning striking the same place twice.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on Thursday that the league is investigating the Arizona Diamondbacks after bench coach Ariel Prieto was spotted in the dugout wearing an electronic watch during the NL wild-card game on Wednesday. Arizona defeated the Colorado Rockies in the game 11-8.
In https://t.co/j7k2N1VSQF story you'll see pic MLB has from last nite's WC game vs. #Rockies of Prieto wearing what looks like elec watch
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 5, 2017
The news comes just mere weeks after another MLB team, the Boston Red Sox, was fined an undisclosed amount due to their own alleged use of an electronic watch to steal signs (something the Internet had a field day with).
As Sherman notes, the MLB “bans electronic equipment on the bench that has internet capabilities,” and commissioner Rob Manfred said in fining the Red Sox that future violations would “be subject to more serious sanctions, including the possible loss of draft picks.” Thus, the league may be taking this matter more seriously, especially with the heightened stakes of the playoffs.