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‘Good Guy With a Good Heart’- Padres Owner Blown Away by ‘Very Genuine’ Star Slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. Despite Career-Altering Ped Scandal

Published 08/29/2022, 8:00 AM EDT

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While talking about the most successful and potentially great youngsters, Fernando Tatis Jr. is the first name that comes to mind. The Dominican shortstop and outfielder made his MLB debut only in 2019 with the Padres. Since then, he’s already won two Silver Slugger Awards, made an appearance in the 2021 All-Star team, and stood at the top of the National League home run leader in 2021.

However, everything changed on August 12, 2022. Tatis tested positive for a banned substance called Clostebol, an anabolic steroid. Eventually, the MLB issued an 80-game ban on Tatis Jr. In light of the ban, Bebo would be out of action for the remainder of 2022 and the starting few games of 2023. Not to mention, in 2021, Bebo signed a 14-year deal for $340 million with the Padres.

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What did Peter Seidler say about Fernando Tatis Jr.?

After Fernando Tatis Jr. made the big bucks by signing an explosively lucrative deal, he delivered up to his expectations in 2021. However, 2022 didn’t go the way he would have wanted. During the offseason, Bebo suffered a wrist injury during a bike accident. Due to this, he was deemed out of action for the first few months of 2022. Nevertheless, just as talks of his return began, he tested positive for a banned MLB substance.

While Tatis Jr. disappointed the entire world of baseball with his PED usage, the chairperson and owner of the Padres, Peter Seidler, came out and stood behind him. He said, “The wrong way to look at it is to be angry at a 23-year-old young man…I know he’s a good guy with a good heart and he cares. Getting to see him face-to-face, seeing his body language, I was impressed. He owned up to it. He was very genuine.”

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As has been noted, Tatis Jr. offered regret and admitted to his mistake. He said, “I want to apologize to Peter [Seidler], A.J. [Preller], 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.”

Bebo’s Adidas partnership

Markedly, the MLB suspended Fernando Tatis Jr. for 80 games after he tested positive for a banned substance called Clostebol. The suspension would stretch across the remainder of the 2022 season and the beginning of 2023. Subsequently, Adidas pulled out of its partnership with Tatis Jr. on the pretext that “We believe that sport should be fair.” In an official statement, Adidas added, “We have a clear policy on doping and can confirm that our partnership with Fernando Tatis Jr. will not continue.”

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After his suspension and PED scandal, Fernando Tatis Jr. has faced the heat from every possible side. From media to fans and former players, everyone seems to be joining the bus slowly. However, do you think that this treatment is fair?

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Written by:

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is an MLB author for EssentiallySports. He is pursuing his BBA degree, specializing in Communications & Media with a Public Policy minor. Along with his keen interest in politics and questions about society, he has written multiple research papers about a variety of topics, ranging from stand-up comedy to the Indian Education System.
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Edited by:

Simar Singh Wadhwa