Jonathan Papelbon isn’t a supporter of Fernando Tatis Jr. or those who cheat in sports.
The pitcher for the Boston Red Sox voiced his strong opinions regarding Tatis after the player received an 80-game suspension for violating the MLB’s drug policy.
During an episode of WEEI’s The Bradfo Sho podcast, Papelbon expressed his frustration, stating, “This whole Tatis stuff, man, it almost enrages me. I worked hard and did things the right way. Seeing something like that hurts me deeply. If I were pitching against him, I would intentionally hit him every time. Winning or losing wouldn’t matter.”
Tatis’ father mentioned that his son had used Trofobol to treat ringworm on his neck, although Clostebol, the banned substance detected in Tatis’ test, is a component of Trofobol.
Despite the reason for Tatis’ use of Clostebol, it remains on the prohibited list of substances by both the World Anti-Doping Agency and Major League Baseball.
Papelbon also highlighted the changes in the game, expressing his belief that players are now limited in enforcing the rules compared to when he played.
“The issue now with baseball is that players can’t handle situations like they used to when I was playing,” Papelbon remarked. “If you hit a player now, you face suspension and other consequences. Let the players regulate the game.”
“What I miss about baseball is the way players used to self-regulate. Back then, it wasn’t up to the umpires or coaches; it was up to us, the players.”
Papelbon had a notable career, playing for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals from 2005 to 2016, amassing a total of 368 saves.
