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Hendriks: MLB should develop universal substance only to improve grip

Quinn Harris / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks is in favor of Major League Baseball cracking down on sticky substances being used by pitchers to potentially improve performance, and he has a solution in mind.

"I still think a universal substance needs to be added," Hendriks said, according to James Fegan of The Athletic. "Because if you're coming into the ninth inning of a game, these balls have been sitting down for however long and they're just pretty much dust. It's interesting how everything is kind of 'follow the rules, this way, this way, this way,' but the balls are kind of left out the entire time, and it's controlled by the home team."

Hendriks said the purpose of using sticky substances was initially to improve grip and insisted that if it's now being used to enhance spin rates, it needs to be addressed.

This compromise would involve a newly approved substance - provided by the league - beyond the rosin bag that is readily available to pitchers behind the mound already.

He added that everyone should have access to the same materials to maintain an even playing field.

"I remember pitching against a team where their guys would get super dark balls, and the visiting team would get super light balls, lightly rubbed up balls," Hendriks said. "And that was just, you knew that was happening. I think there needs to be some control on that, maybe a third party that controls balls going in and out. There needs to be a universal substance if that's the route they want to go. I think that that's a beneficial way of making sure that they can scientifically prove that this adds no performance value."

The use of sticky substances on baseballs is not new to the game, but it's taken center stage this season as MLB vowed to keep a closer eye.

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