Fernando Tatis Jr. speaks for first time since PED suspension

Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr. faced the media for the first time since being suspended for PEDs, apologizing while holding firm on his skin infection excuse.

Fernando Tatis Jr. won’t suit up for the Padres for a long time after receiving an 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

Fans won’t have to wait to hear from him until his lengthy absence is complete though.

He faced the music on Tuesday before San Diego took on the Guardians.

Fernando Tatis Jr. speaks for first time since PED suspension

“I’m really sorry. I’ve let so many people down. I have lost so much love from people. I have failed,” Tatis Jr. said in his opening statement. “…I’ve failed every fan of this city. I’ve failed my country. I have failed my family, my parents. I’m really sorry for my mistakes.

“I have seen how my dreams have turned into my worst nightmares, in a couple days, couple months, but there is no other one to blame but myself. I haven’t made the right decisions in the past two weeks, months, even at the beginning of the year. I have made a mistake and I regret every single step.”

Apologies out of the way, Tatis tried to clarify what happened to get him on the wrong side of the PED policy.

Tatis continues to insist that he took medication for a skin infection, which caused his positive test. The positive came back in July, per Darnay Tripp of NBC San Diego. He started using Trofobol, a drug from his home in the Dominican Republic, in June.

As for why he didn’t immediately notify the Padres about his test results before flying back to San Diego, he said, “I freaked out.”

Tatis sounds remorseful, though mileage may vary on how believable his excuse about treatment for a fungal infection leading to his suspension is.

Now that he’s faced the media, he’ll undergo surgery on his shoulder and work to get back on the field and back in the good graces of baseball.