Fernando Tatis Jr. sure loves being Major League Baseball’s newest villain.
The San Diego Padres outfielder missed the entire 2022 season after suffering an injury from a fall on a motorcycle, but just as he was ready to return, he was suspended 80 games for performance-enhancing drugs.
Tatis returned earlier this year, but for the rest of his career he will be teased. That was certainly no different in the Bronx on Friday night.
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Xander Bogaerts #2 and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrate victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 26, 2023 in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The San Diego Padres defeated the New York Yankees 5-1. (Elsa/Getty Images)
In the Padres game in New York against the Yankees, the right fielder Bleacher Creatures hit Tatis with the lengthy «steroids» taunt.
Most players would ignore it and probably hate it, but Fernando Tatis Jr. isn’t most players.
The star outfielder seemed to love every second and acted as the driver of the teasing.
Oh, and Tatis hadn’t finished there: He hit a shot to the moon on the top deck, threw an epic bat toss, and hit an imaginary jump shot that circled third base in San Diego’s 5-1 win at the Bronx.
This isn’t the first time Tatis has entertained the taunts. When the Chicago Cubs hit him with a «he’s on steroids» chant, she actually danced to it.
Tatis said he «unknowingly» took a medication containing Clostebola banned substance, as he was treating a case of ringworm.
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates their win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 26, 2023 in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The San Diego Padres defeated the New York Yankees 5-1. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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«I should have used available resources to make sure there were no banned substances in what I took. I didn’t,» he said in a statement.
Tatis said he initially appealed the suspension, but «I have realized that my mistake was the cause of this result, and so I have decided to start serving my suspension immediately.»
«I have no excuse for my mistake, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game that I love,» he added.
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres jogs around the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 26, 2023 in Bronx, New York. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
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Tatis signed a 13-year, $340 million deal ahead of the 2021 season that was the third most lucrative deal in MLB history At the time. He was outbid by Francisco Lindor by $1 million before the season began, and Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million contract this offseason also outbid Tatis’ number, with teammate Manny Machado signing a $1 extension. 350 million before Opening Day.
Despite their wild signings, the Padres are 24-27 and in fourth place in the NL West.