MLB News: All-Star Shortstop Return Suffers Setback With Steroid Issue

Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres seemed ready to return for the coming MLB season after sitting out all of last season. But the two-time All-Star shortstop's comeback will have to wait.

Tatis was handed an 80-game suspension after he tested positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance, TMZ Sports reported.

According to the MLB, the suspension of the 23-year-old Dominican player will start immediately.

Tatis claimed that the positive test was due to medication he took to treat ringworm, ESPN reported.

"It turns out that I inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol," Tatis said in a statement. "I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so."

As a result, he will now be placed on the restricted list for the final 48 games of the Padres' regular season. His team's postseason games will be counted in his 80-game suspension. The remainder of the suspension will be served during the 2023 MLB season.

"There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than on the field competing with my teammates. After initially appealing the suspension, I have realized that my mistake was the cause of this result, and for that reason, I have decided to start serving my suspension immediately. I look forward to rejoining my teammates on the field in 2023," Tatis added in his official statement.

The Padres said in an official statement that they were surprised by the test results and disappointed with Tatis, according to ESPN.

The team added that they support the MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program and hope that the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner will learn from this experience.

Tatis sat out the entirety of the last MLB season due to a wrist injury. He was originally set to rejoin the Padres in the coming days.

The suspension is a huge blow to the Padres, which appear primed for a World Series shot after adding Juan Soto and Josh Bell at the trade deadline.

The San Diego Padres are currently behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West but hold one of the National League's Wild Card spots.