Orioles' Davis on suspension: 'A mistake that I wish I could go back and undo'
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has had plenty of time to reflect since being handed a 25-game suspension in September after testing positive for Adderall.
The slugger spoke to reporters Saturday during the Orioles FanFest and explained that he had a previous exemption for using the drug to help curb his attention deficit disorder, and that it was an oversight on his part to use it without getting approval last season.
"I had an exemption in the past," Davis explained to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. "It was denied in 2013 and obviously, I shouldn't have been taking it last year. I took it a couple of times.
"It was a moment of weakness. Obviously, I wasn't thinking about the big picture. It was a mistake that I wish I could go back and undo, but that being said, I served my suspension and have one game left and (am) going forward … It's something that's been addressed in the past, but obviously I didn't take the right steps."
Davis's suspension came at an inopportune time for the division-leading Orioles, who were gearing up for a postseason run. Despite hitting .196 through 127 games - reportedly a contributor to Davis's motivation for taking the drug - the All-Star's bat remained an intimidating force in the lineup, thanks to his 79 home runs over the past two seasons.
The terms of his suspension meant that Davis was unable to come to the ballpark the day he received the news and explain to his teammates what had happened - something the 28-year-old described as the most difficult part of the process.
The toughest thing for me was not being there (for my teammates). To me the biggest thing you can do when you screw up is face the problem and not being able to look those guys in their eyes and tell them what had gone on.
For them to find out the way they found out, I wasn't really happy with that. But that's kind of the way things went with the doubleheader that day. It was an early game, and the way I found out I wasn't able to go to the field that day which bothered me.
But I was able to come back during the postseason. I didn't want to be a distraction, I wanted to see everybody and talk to them and let them know how sorry I was and two that I was still behind them no matter what. And I think all of that was addressed toward the season last year and we are going to move forward.
As a result of the Kansas City Royals sweeping the Orioles in the ALCS, Davis still has one game remaining on his suspension and will miss Opening Day.