A bombshell dropped in MLB on Friday evening as ESPN‘s Jeff Passan reported Padres’ star Fernando Tatis Jr. is suspended 80 games for using performance-enhancing drugs effective immediately.
Tatis Jr.’s suspension will cover the remainder of the 2022 MLB season, including any potential playoff games. With just about 50 games left this year, the remainder of Tatis Jr’s suspension will roll over into San Diego’s 2023 campaign. Tatis Jr. had been working his way back from a broken wrist and was on the verge of returning soon before news of his suspension was made official.
The Padres’ organization issued a strong rebuke upon learning of Tatis Jr’s positive test:
Pretty direct statement from the Padres … pic.twitter.com/Iduk4QGAhI
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) August 12, 2022
Tatis Jr. issued his own statement through the MLBPA:
The Major League Baseball Players Association issued the following statement on behalf of Fernando Tatis, Jr.: pic.twitter.com/gCNVcs0a5Y
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) August 12, 2022
Needless to say, this is understandably a huge shift for the Padres and Tatis Jr. across the board. Especially as the franchise sought its first-ever championship.
On Monday, August 2, after swinging a historic trade for Juan Soto, San Diego’s World Series odds with Tipico Sportsbook eventually settled at a robust +1300. Though, those numbers likely factored in the return of Tatis Jr. from injury to be ready for the postseason.
After news of Tatis Jr’s suspension was made official on Friday, the Padres’ consensus odds dropped all the way to +1800. San Diego still has a strong squad, but that is a precipitous dip that certainly accounts for the loss of arguably their best player for the foreseeable future.
MLB fans were stunned to learn of Tatis Jr.'s 80-game suspension
Oh boy. https://t.co/g7UydV0ZU4 pic.twitter.com/SCC9QSOBa5
— Jane ن 🇺🇲⚾ (@TheLadyJane) August 12, 2022
Dude. You had one job. https://t.co/Za9leLelkM
— Brian Murphy (@knbrmurph) August 12, 2022
Never been more disappointed in my life https://t.co/tzbb3TCedP
— jackiesins (@jackiesins) August 12, 2022
That was unexpected news. https://t.co/PrvHPQOrBg
— Bill Pearch (@billpearch) August 12, 2022
anddddd there goes his legacy. I obviously disagree with that being all it takes but, that *is* all it takes. Really a shame. https://t.co/mRKW0ftr79
— Emily Nyman (@EmSheDoesIt) August 12, 2022
Fernando Tatis Jr. is the 3rd player in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to finish top 3 for MVP and miss the entire following season.
He joins Moisés Alou, who missed the 1999 season due to a torn ACL following a treadmill accident, and Sandy Koufax, who retired following 1966. pic.twitter.com/mZxLLLJxlh
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 12, 2022
In other words: This process is complete, because MLB would only announce this when the player is going on the restricted list. Tatis either chose to appeal and that process played out or, more likely, he accepted the suspension.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) August 12, 2022
.@Padres odds to win World Series at @BetMGM
25-1: All-Star Break
10-1: After Soto trade
18-1: Tatis suspended
— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) August 12, 2022
I don't have any words at this point either folks. Just trying to digest all this same as you. Stunned….
— Bob Scanlan (@heyscan) August 12, 2022
Statement also clear to say the team “learned today” about the suspension. I wonder what the Nats could have gotten for Soto if the Padres had learned about the suspension a couple weeks ago. Makes Padres urgency look smart in hindsight https://t.co/oUwwVVz8vj
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) August 12, 2022
Whatever happens in the remainder of Fernando Tatis Jr.'s career, he will always be tarnished now. This is huge.
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) August 12, 2022
I keep thinking about how much joy there was for all involved when Fernando Tatis Jr. signed his statue contract. So much has gone wrong in the 18 months since. One unfortunate turn after another.
— Darnay Tripp (@DarnayTripp) August 12, 2022
Gabe Kapler didn’t have much of a reaction to Fernando Tatis Jr. news. “The team we just played is plenty good enough to win a ton of baseball games down the stretch.” Giants are 7 1/2 back of Padres right now.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 12, 2022
those Padres World Series futures pic.twitter.com/m6doaJgQeT
— BetRivers Sportsbook (@BetRivers) August 12, 2022
Tainted meat 🤝 ringworm meds https://t.co/QGE9dC6lfZ
— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) August 12, 2022
Fernando Tatis Jr.: “We’re going to be so good now that we have Juan Soto.”
The Padres: pic.twitter.com/wnmbMb8xs7
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) August 12, 2022
