Fernando Tatis Jr. (24-San Diego Padres) is playing against the Yankees amidst boos and taunts for taking banned substances. Tatis, who could have been mentally rattled, instead appeared to be in good spirits as he spoke to the media after hitting a walk-off home run.
Tatis Jr. started in right field and went 1-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and one run scored in San Diego’s 5-1 win over the New York Yankees on Sunday (Sept. 27) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, USA.
After failing to reach base in his first three at-bats, Tatis Jr. broke through with a two-out, two-run shot to left field in the sixth inning with a 2-0 lead. He took a first-pitch changeup from Yankees pitcher Ron Marinaccio and crushed it for his eighth home run of the season, his first in five games since May 21 against the Boston Red Sox. It was a game-winning hit.
According to MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, Tatis Jr. was booed and taunted by numerous New York fans on the day, especially those in the right field bleachers, where he had to play right field defense. Some fans chanted the word “steroids” in rhythm, criticizing his discipline for taking banned substances last year.
Tatis Jr. was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Aug. 13 last year. He violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance clostebol. Beginning in June, Tatis took a medication for a skin infection (tinea pedis) that contained clostebol for nearly two months without being cleared by his physician.
Tatis Jr. was previously on the injured reserve list after fracturing his left wrist in a motorcycle accident in March. He recovered and was set to return in late August, but a banned substance violation prevented him from returning to the field for the 2022 season. Following the suspension, Tatis Jr. made his comeback game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 21. His midseason numbers are 2-for-5 with eight home runs and 17 RBIs in 31 games 메이저사이트.
But Tatis Jr. wasn’t fazed by the taunts from New York fans. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it. He gestured toward the outfield in disbelief and responded to the “steroids” chants with a rhythmic tap of his hand. His facial expressions remained cheerful throughout. “Tatis seemed to be having fun despite the taunts,” MLB.com said of the local atmosphere.
Tatis was undaunted. “It was too loud,” he said. New York is a city where you can hear everything,” he said. “I’m just trying to have a good time with the fans. I’ve learned how to take it and how to respond to it.”
The local media asked Tatis Jr. to name his favorite response to the fans on the night. He had only one answer. Without hesitation, Tatis Jr. said, “That home run,” with a big smile on his face.