Arizona Diamondbacks and coach Ariel Prieto Fined by MLB for Using Apple Watch

Although the Diamondbacks Ariel Prieto forgot to take off his smartwatch during the game by mistake, MLB still didn't hesitate to fine him for this.

Photo by Peter Joneleit/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (8899681o)

If you have some business in the dugout during an MLB game, remember to take off your Apple Watch or any other smartwatch for that matter. The league takes this seriously, as one MLB coach experienced. During Wednesday night’s wild-card game against the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks coach/interpreter Ariel Prieto was spotted wearing something that looked like a smartwatch. The investigation conducted by MLB showed that Prieto was wearing an Apple watch. Although forensic examination didn’t find Prieto using the watch in the dugout or for baseball-related communication during the game, he was still fined alongside the Diamondbacks for violation of MLB’s on-field regulations. The MLB issued a statement after the investigation was completed.

Major League Baseball has completed its inquiry into the matter of the watch worn by Arizona Diamondbacks coach/interpreter Ariel Prieto in the dugout during the National League Wild Card Game on Wednesday night at Chase Field. The inquiry was conducted by MLB’s Department of Investigations, and the findings were submitted to Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
MLB forensically examined Mr. Prieto’s Apple Watch and his cell phone and interviewed Mr. Prieto. 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. The amount of the fines will, in turn, be donated by the Office of the Commissioner to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.”

The fine that was issued to Ariel Prieto will surely be a good reminder for the future. He immediately recognized his oversight and the Diamondbacks issued a statement describing it as an “honest mistake”.

Harley loves music and tries to go to a music festival every summer. When he's not listening to music, he writes about movies, food and wine, art, and sport.