Fernando Tatis Jr is a beast. The stats say all you need to know. His slugging percentage over the past three seasons is .596, which means he’s got power. He gets on base. Between 2019 and 2021, he racked up 81 home runs. He rounds bases. He is a powerful core of the San Diego Padres.

He’s also getting $340 million over 14 years. Well, except for the rest of the 2022 season and the start of next season. That is because, in part, beyond all of this insurmountable wealth, he apparently doesn’t have any professionals in his life consulting him on appropriate ringworm treatments.

This is the same guy who got himself into a motorcycle accident prior to the season.

I’m not an investment professional, but if you have a contract worth $340 million, you have to surround yourself with people who are going to help you protect the investment that is you.

I have been informed by Major League Baseball that a test sample I submitted returned a positive result for Clostebol. I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so. 

I want to apologize to Peter, AJ, the entire Padres organization, my teammates, Major League Baseball, and fans everywhere for my mistake. I have no excuse for my error, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love.

I have taken countless drug tests throughout my professional career, including March 29, 2022, all of which have returned negative results until this test. 

I am completely devastated. There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than on the field competing with my teammates. After initially appealing the suspension, I have realized my mistake was the cause of this result, and for that reason I have decided to start serving my suspension immediately. I look forward to re-joining my teammates on the field in 2023.

Statement by Tatis Jr via CBS Sports

Clostebol is a muscle-building agent. You won’t find it in ringworm meds in the US. I don’t know. It seems fishy. Now his people have him on a late summer apology tour. He just wrapped up a press conference to apologize to everyone on the planet.

“I’m truly sorry. I have let so many people down. I have lost so much love from people. I have failed,” Tatis continued. “I’m going to remember what this feels like, and I’m not going to put myself in this position ever again. I know I have a lot of love that I have to recover. I have a lot of work to do, it will be a very long process. I’m learning, I’m maturing.”

Fernando Tatis Jr.

He’s got to build back trust. He already wasn’t part of the equation this situation, as he was rehabbing from his wrist injury. The Padres are going to be ok. His judgement has created a missed opportunity for the team that really was pulling things together. They’re 17.5 games behind the Dodgers at this point, but they’re still relatively strong.

I hope Tatis Jr. finds himself some good counsel in the upcoming years. His judgement to date is really messing with his future.