Major League Baseball has launched an investigation into why the Arizona Diamondbacks coach/interpreter, Ariel Prieto, was wearing an electronic watch during their 11-8 wild-card game win against the Colorado Rockies, as reported in the New York Post.
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Prieto was seen wearing a watch similar to those used by the Boston Red Sox in an attempt to allegedly steal signs from the Yankees in August. He denied any malicious intent.
MLB RUMORS: MLB has launched an investigation on Diamondbacks coach Ariel Prieto for wearing an apple watch against the Rockies pic.twitter.com/oH2oIJDtvX
— The3PointConversion (@3ptCnvrsn) October 5, 2017
“My watch has been in airplane mode for about two days,” Prieto said.
“If they want to take my Apple Watch, take my phone, they can do it. I wasn’t doing anything.
"I know it’s a rule, I know I missed that, but if they want to investigate, they can have it."
MLB has a ban on all devices with internet capabilities in the dugout. It has not commented on the investigation, but commissioner Rob Manfred warned teams that harsher sanctions would come as a result of new violations after the Red Sox were fined an undisclosed amount for their use of an Apple watch.
A Diamondbacks spokesman said the team has been contacted about the probe and is cooperating.
Arizona opens its divisional series against the L.A. Dodgers tomorrow.