MLB: Fernando Tatis Jr. ‘is cleared for baseball activities’ amid PEDs ban

Suspended Fernando Tatis Jr. is reportedly able to return to baseball activities following operations on his left shoulder and left wrist.

The 24-year-old San Diego Padres player was banned in August after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing anabolic steroid and so cannot play until April 20.

But he has been cleared to start baseball training again following surgeries, according to The Athletic.

The outlet reports Tatis Jr. had surgery on his left shoulder in September and two operations on his left wrist a month later.

The shortstop has recovered and can return to baseball activity and is reportedly set to participate in spring training.

Tatis Jr.’s suspension was announced by Major League Baseball on August 12 and Clostebol was identified as the illegal substance. Tatis said he had been dealing with ringworm and inadvertently used a banned substance. He apologized for his actions.

Tatis played in a career-high 130 games in 2021, his third major league season, and led the National League with 42 home runs. He batted .282 with 97 RBIs and 25 steals and was third in National League MVP voting.

In 273 career games, Tatis has a .292 batting average with 81 home runs and 195 RBIs. He was a first-time All-Star in 2021 after finishing fourth in NL MVP voting during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and he signed a 14-year, $330 million contract with the Padres during spring training last year.

Tatis said he would undergo surgery on his left shoulder during the suspension. Part of the reason why he and the team were at odds was due to him declining to go under the knife following last season.

Making matters worse was the December 2021 motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic. Tatis allegedly broke his left wrist in the incident but the Padres were unaware of the break until he reported to spring training in March last year.

He had surgery on his broken left wrist then and did not play last season.