New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is one of several star pitchers who were named in a lawsuit for using illegal ball-doctoring substances provided by a former visiting Angels clubhouse manager.
Brian “Bubba” Harkins, who was dismissed in March after an MLB investigation revealed he was helping visiting pitchers with ball-gripping substances, had a lawsuit filed via his attorney on Thursday against the Angels and MLB, according to the Los Angeles Times. The filing follows an attempt by the Angels and MLB to dismiss Harkins' previous motion claiming defamation.
Harkins names multiple pitchers in the lawsuit who used his "concoctions" and claimed he was made a "public scapegoat" in MLB's efforts to enforce its policy on banned illegal substances to improve pitchers' grip.