MLB: Alex Rodriguez reveals he was ‘heartbroken’ for Fernando Tatis Jr. following an 80-game drug ban

Alex Rodriguez knows a thing or two about controversy.

It is through this knowledge, that he finds it difficult not to feel sorry for San Diego’s banned star, Fernando Tatis Jr.

Tatis was handed a huge 80-game suspension last week for violating the league’s drug policy, testing positive for the anabolic steroid, Clostebol.

Rodriguez found himself in a similar predicament almost a decade ago. The 14-time All-Star missed the entirety of the 2014 season after being found guilty of using Human Growth Hormone.

‘I wish that a lot of these young players that I admire so much learn from my stupidity and my debacle,’ Rodriguez said on ESPN2 during Sunday night’s Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees coverage.

‘It almost brings me to tears to see a kid like Tatis that’s 23 years old, that for the rest of his career, he’s just going to play it out.

‘I was heartbroken [for Tatis]because to make a mistake at 22 or 23 years old that’s going to affect you for the rest of your life, maybe 60 years.

‘I made that mistake in my late 30s, it was out of desperation to get back on the field and play,’ Rodriguez told host Michael Kay.

‘What’s interesting about Tatis is that he hasn’t played in a year. And he’s not going to play, probably, for another year.’

Reflecting on his past and future, Rodriguez admitted there is likely no future for him in Baseball heaven as a result of the drug ban.

‘There’s probably no Hall of Fame. I’m not going to go to the Hall of Fame, probably, because of my own mistake. And that’s heartbreaking for me,’ he added.

‘It’s heartbreaking to explain that to my daughters. But that’s on me. So I get to be now, hopefully a better friend, a better businessman and, more importantly, a better father.

‘I have no regrets, no excuses for my behaviour. It’s on me.’