Diamondbacks did not cheat, but will pay for coach’s Apple Watch
The Diamondbacks are paying for their coach’s Apple Watch, just like the Red Sox did last month.
MLB announced Friday it was fining the Diamondbacks and coach Ariel Prieto each for Prieto’s decision to wear the electronic device in the dugout during Wednesday night’s win over the Rockies in the NL wild-card game.
An investigation into Prieto’s fashion choice revealed no illegal actions, such as stealing signs, during the game in Phoenix, but MLB has a rule against wearing such devices in the dugout and handed down punishment accordingly. On Thursday, Prieto called wearing the watch on game night a “simple oversight and honest mistake.”
“MLB forensically examined Mr. Prieto’s Apple Watch and his cell phone and interviewed Mr. Prieto,” the league said in a statement. “MLB found no evidence that Mr. Prieto used the Apple Watch or cell phone for any purpose in the dugout, nor any baseball-related communication on either device, during Wednesday’s game.
“Despite these findings, Mr. Prieto violated MLB’s on-field regulation by having this device in the dugout. As a result, Mr. Prieto and the D-backs have each been fined an undisclosed amount.”
Commissioner Rob Manfred plans to take the Diamondbacks’ money and donate it to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, MLB added in the statement.
The Red Sox ignited the discussion around the use of high-tech devices when the Yankees believed they caught them using a coach’s Apple Watch to steal signs during a game in August. Boston admitted to the violation and was fined an undisclosed amount.
At the time, Manfred warned teams that any future offense of this type would be met with harsher sanctions.