San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. suspended 80 games for PEDs

Jeff Passan of ESPN was the first to report that San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has been suspended by MLB for 80 games. He has been suspended for the use of Clostebol, an anabolic steroid. It was the steroid that many other MLB players, including Dee Gordon-Strange, Freddy Galvis, and others have been suspended for as well.

Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. suspended for 80 games for PEDs

Fernando Tatis Jr. has yet to play a single game in the majors this season but the Padres’ star shortstop will not play a single game this year, in general, due to a PED suspension. He has been on the injured list since Spring Training because of a fractured scaphoid bone in his wrist that he suffered during the MLB lockout in a motorcycle accident.

Because of the lockout, Tatis was unable to receive treatment from the club and their medical staff. When asked about the motorcycle accident, Tatis replied “Which one?” revealing that he had been in multiple accidents.

Tatis was on the mend and about to return to the majors but now, he will be done for the year. With 48 games left in the season for the Padres, he will miss the rest of this year, the postseason and the first 32 games of next season.

Tatis made his MLB debut in 2019 and despite only playing in 84 games, he hit 22 home runs, had 53 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and hit .317/.379/.590 with an OPS plus of 154. He also came in third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Tatis had 17 home runs, 45 RBI, and hey slash line of .277/.366/.571, and an OPS+ of 156. He came in fourth and NL MVP voting and won a Silver Slugger Award. In 2021, he led the National League in home runs with 42, had 97 RBI, 25 stolen bases, and a slash line of .282/.364/.611, and an OPS+ of 165. He was an All Star, came in third in NL MVP voting, and won a Silver Slugger Award.

With the suspension, he will forego his pay, as well. That amounts to about $3 million. He is currently in the second year of a 14-year, $340 million contract.

We will have more information on Call To The Pen as the story develops.