Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres, one of Major League Baseball’s brightest and most promising players, was suspended on Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Basically, he won’t be able to play this season.
Tatis, the son of a former major leaguer, made his MLB debut in 2019 and instantly gained popularity among the crowd and on the field. He has played shortstop and the outfield during his career, posting a.965 OPS.
In addition, his suspension, which MLB announced Friday night, keeps him out for the remainder of the current season and the first 32 matches of the following year.
Here’s what we know about his suspension and return date.
Fernando Tatis Jr Suspended For 80 Games: His Drug Use And Clostebol Results
Fernando Tatis Jr., the shortstop for the San Diego Padres, has been given an 80-game suspension without pay, based on the Major League Baseball Commissioner’s Office.
Additionally, he has been suspended for violating Major League Baseball’s Anti-Doping Prevention and Treatment Program after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug Clostebol.
The All-Star shortstop will not be permitted to compete in the major leagues this season due to the penalty, which became effective immediately.
The Padres released a statement: “We were shocked and immensely disappointed to learn today that Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in infringement of Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and received an 80-game suspension without pay.”
In his apology, Tatis expressed regret to the Padres organization, the league, and the fans, saying what he did was “my mistake.”
Tatis stated, “I have no justification for my oversight, and I would never do anything to cheat or degrade this game I adore.”
“I have done numerous drug tests throughout my professional career, including on March 29, 2022, and up until this test, all of them have shown negative results.”
What Happened To Fernando Tatis Jr?
Tatis had spent the entire season on the injured list after breaking his left wrist during spring training. He had just started a rehab stint at Double-A, and the playoff-bound Padres were hopeful he would return and improve their chances later.
On the other hand, MLB claimed the suspension would also prohibit the Padres star from representing the Dominican Republic in the March World Baseball Classic.
Likewise, he was the ninth player this season to receive a major league drug program suspension. A total of 33 players have been suspended due to the minor league drug policy.
Moreover, players who test positive for PEDs are disqualified from that year’s postseason.
A.J. Preller, general manager of the Padres, claimed to have learned of the suspension late Friday afternoon. He claimed to have seen his player’s statement but hadn’t yet spoken to Tatis.
The Padres Shortstop Ineligible To Return Until The 2023 Season
Per Marca, the slugger won’t be able to play again until the 2023 season. In a similar vein, he talked about his return to the field in 2023 in his apologetic statement.
“I am utterly saddened,” he writes. I’d rather be on the field competing with my teammates than anywhere else in the world.
“I first appealed the suspension, but after realizing that my error led to this outcome, I’ve decided to start serving it right away. In 2023, I’m eager to return to the field with my teammates. ”
This year, Tatis will miss the remaining 48 regular-season games and will serve the remainder of the sentence at the start of the following season. Any postseason games the Padres play will count against the 80 games Tatis must miss.