A group of six MLB pitchers have "used a Kevlar padding insert in caps this season or in spring training" that the league "has not approved," according to William Weinbaum of ESPN.com. Unequal Technologies CEO Rob Vito said that White Sox P Hector Noesi and Yankees P Esmil Rogers "have worn the company's 'Dome' insert under official New Era caps in games this season." Four other pitchers he declined to name "have also worn them in the last six weeks." An MLB exec Sunday on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" said that the league "was looking into the use of the Dome inserts and was reserving comment." Weinbaum noted pitchers are "free to wear protective headgear of their choice, as long as it doesn't interfere with competition or with MLB licensing agreements." MLB and MLBPA have "approved two versions of isoBLOX padding for pitchers' caps made by 4Licensing subsidiary Pinwrest," but only one pitcher wore last year's product and "none has worn the new iteration in a game this season." Vito said that about 20 MLB catchers, including the Royals' Salvador Perez and Cubs' David Ross, an endorser for Unequal, "wear either the Dome or the company's 'Uncap' padded insert that has a hard plastic layer." The Uncap "has not been tested or approved by MLB either" (ESPN.com, 4/12).
