Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson responds to accusations of pitcher doctoring ball

A Georgia baseball pitcher accused by opposing fans on social media and by the opposing coach of using a foreign substance in a game last Saturday will be available for the Bulldogs this weekend to play, according to coach Wes Johnson.

Reliever Christian Mracna didn’t make the trip to Kennesaw State Tuesday for what the team said at the time was an “illness.”

That came three days after Mracna was captured on video by Barstool Texas A&M in the Georgia bullpen going into a corner and with his back turned apparently working on his glove. Another video taken from the SEC Network video showed him touching the top of his glove with fingers of his pitching hand between pitches.

Mcracna struck out six batters in two innings pitched for his first save of the year in a 5-4 Georgia win in the second game of a doubleheader in College Station, Texas.

Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle suspects Mracna broke rules by applying a foreign substance.

“Certainly appears that way,” Schlossnagle said in a text to The Associated Press on Tuesday. “It’s part of the game ... wish we would’ve caught it.”

Georgia coach Wes Johnson responded Thursday afternoon when told about Schlossnagle’s comments.

“Guys, I’m going to make a blanket statement,” Johnson said. “I don’t have time in my day to deal with online subjective distractions. We teach our players to play by the rules. That’s just where I’m at.”

Mracna, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound righty, is a graduate transfer from George Mason. He is 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 13 appearances.

NCAA rules state: “The pitcher or defensive player(s) shall not apply any foreign substance or moisture to the ball or to the pitching hand or fingers, or do anything to deface the ball.”

Those found to be in violation are ejected from a game and receive a four-game suspension.

Vanderbilt pitcher JD Thompson was ejected from a game against Florida earlier this season and suspended for four games.

SEC associate director of communication Ben Beaty said via email this week that “we do not comment on communications with schools related to officiating.”

Georgia had declined comment about Mracna or any communication with the SEC on the matter before Johnson’s comments Thursday.

Georgia opens a three-game series against Vanderbilt Friday at Foley Field.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: What UGA baseball coach Wes Johnson said on doctored ball allegations