Fernando Tatis Jr. loves being Major League Baseball’s newest villain.
The San Diego Padres outfielder missed the entire 2022 season after sustaining an injury from a fall from a motorcycle, but just when he was due 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 mocked. It 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 Bronx borough of New York City. The San Diego Padres defeated the New York Yankees 5-1. (Elsa/Getty Images)
In the New York Padres’ game against the Yankees, right fielder Bleacher Creatures hit Tatis with the long “steroids” taunt.
Most players would ignore him and probably hate him – but Fernando Tatis Jr. isn’t most players.
The star outfielder seemed to love every second of it and acted as a conductor for the teasing.
Oh, and Tatis wasn’t done there — he hit a moonshot into the upper deck, did an epic bat flip, and hit an imaginary jump shot around third base on the San Diego’s 5-1 win over 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, he actually danced to it.
Tatis said he “inadvertently” took a drug containing Clostebola banned substance while treating a case of ringworm.
Fernando Tatis Jr. Number 23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates their victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 26, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York. The San Diego Padres defeated the New York Yankees 5-1. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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“I should have used the resources I had to make sure no banned substances were in what I took. I didn’t,” he said in a statement.
Tatis said he initially appealed the suspension, but “I realized that my mistake was the cause of this result, and for that reason, I 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 runs around the bases after hitting a sixth inning home run 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 which was the third-highest-grossing trade in MLB history at the time. Francisco Lindor topped him by $1 million before the start of this season, and Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million deal this offseason also beat Tatis’ numbers, and teammate Manny Machado signed a $350 million extension before opening day.
Despite their wild signings, the Padres are only 24-27 and fourth in the NL West.
