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MLB fines Ariel Prieto, Diamondbacks for having device in dugout

MLB, Arizona Diamondbacks

Major League Baseball has completed an investigation into Arizona Diamondbacks coach Ariel Prieto, saying his Apple Watch was not used for any "baseball-related communcation" in the dugout Wednesday night.

In a statement, MLB said its department of investigations "forensically examined" Prieto's watch and found no evidence that it was used for "any purpose in the dugout."

Regardless, Prieto and the Diamondbacks have been fined for having the device in the dugout during the National League wild-card game against the Colorado Rockies. Arizona won the game 11-8.

MLB will donate the fine money to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

Prieto told reporters Thursday that he didn't use the watch for any illicit purpose during the game and that it was on "airplane mode," a setting that shuts off the watch's communication abilities. The former big league pitcher is an extra coach who also serves as interpreter for the Diamondbacks.

He said he knows having the phone during the game violated MLB's rules, and that he apologized to manager Torey Lovullo and volunteered to turn the phone over to MLB officials.

Last month, the Boston Red Sox were fined by Major League Baseball for using an Apple Watch to relay signs to hitters.

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