Tatis back in lineup for Padres after 80-game PED suspension

Thu, Apr 20, 2023
MLB News (AP)

PHOENIX (AP) - Fernando Tatis Jr. is back in the lineup for the San Diego Padres.

The young superstar will bat leadoff and play in right field against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, playing in the big leagues for the first time since an 80-game PED suspension that shocked and angered his teammates, management and a fan base.

The 24-year-old's maturity has been under the microscope over the past couple years, ever since he signed a $330 million, 14-year contract prior to the 2021 season.

Tatis missed all of last season after breaking his left wrist - reportedly in a motorcycle accident in his native Dominican Republic. He was on the cusp of returning from that when his PED suspension was announced on Aug. 12. He blamed his positive test on a cream he said he used for ringworm.

The Padres still made it to the NL Championship Series before falling to the Phillies.

He was one of the game's premier sluggers from 2019 to 2021, batting .292 while mashing 81 homers, including an NL-best 42 during the 2021 season. Nicknamed El Nino, Tatis also plays the game with a flair that quickly made him one of the game's most recognizable and popular players.

His recent stint at Triple-A El Paso, which was in preparation of his big league return, was a reminder how good he can be. He was 17 of 33 with seven homers and 15 RBIs in eight rehab games, slashing .515/.590/1.212.

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The Padres hope Tatis' return can jolt a team that's had a slow start. San Diego has the third-highest payroll in baseball, but has started with a 9-11 record and sits in third place in the NL West.

Despite the PED suspension, Tatis was allowed to play during MLB's spring training. He's moved to the outfield to make room for Xander Bogaerts, who signed a $280 million, 11-year deal in December to play shortstop.

"It's big, man," Bogaerts said of Tatis' return earlier this week. "Time heals a lot. What I've seen so far is someone who wants to come in and show everyone that he's still the real deal and what he did was a mistake and he wants to show that he's matured from that."

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AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson in San Diego contributed to this story.

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