Fernando Tatis Jr. wasted no time announcing his return to baseball, launching a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw in Peoria Stadium’s sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday afternoon.
The San Diego superstar, making his spring training debut after completing an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drug use, connected on a 93-mph fastball from Mariners reliever Tayler Saucedo and sent it 421 feet over the left-field wall. The packed crowd of 7,200 erupted as he rounded the bases with his trademark flair, pointing skyward before touching home plate.
Couldn’t have scripted it better.
“That felt incredible,” the 24-year-old said after the Padres’ 8-5 victory. “I’ve been working toward this moment for months. To get that first swing out of the way with a home run — I couldn’t have asked for more.”
The Longest Offseason of His Career
Tatis missed all of 2022 after being suspended in August for testing positive for clostebol, an anabolic steroid. He initially claimed the substance entered his system through a skin medication for ringworm, but eventually accepted full responsibility for the violation that stunned the baseball world.
The suspension cost him the final 48 games of the 2022 season plus the first 32 games of 2023. He won’t be eligible to return to the majors until April 20 when San Diego faces Arizona — meaning this spring performance carries extra weight for a franchise banking on his return.
“Fernando looked like Fernando today,” said manager Bob Melvin, who watched from the dugout as his star went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. “The swing looked natural, the timing was there. You can see he’s put in serious work.”
The work shows. Tatis reported to camp at 218 pounds, down from 225 when the suspension hit. He’s been grinding with a new personal trainer and sports psychologist during his exile from the game.
Trust Needs Rebuilding
That 14-year, $340 million extension he signed in February 2021? It looked like a steal until the suspension raised uncomfortable questions about his judgment and commitment. GM A.J. Preller has publicly backed his cornerstone player, but acknowledges the organization needs to see real growth.
“This whole experience has taught me about accountability,” Tatis told reporters after Tuesday’s game. “I let down my teammates, the organization, and the fans. That’s not who I want to be. I’m focused on earning back that trust through my actions, not my words.”
The words sound right. Now comes the hard part.
Window Still Wide Open
The Padres entered 2023 with legitimate World Series aspirations after last October’s run to the NLCS. They added Xander Bogaerts on an 11-year, $280 million deal and still have ace Yu Darvish anchoring a rotation that should keep them in contention.
Without their shortstop for April, San Diego plans to start Bogaerts at short with Ha-seong Kim sliding to second base. The arrangement looked smooth Tuesday — the duo turned two crisp double plays and showed solid chemistry up the middle.
“We’ve got depth at every position,” said veteran third baseman Manny Machado, who batted cleanup behind the returning star. “When Fernando comes back, we’ll be even more dangerous. But we can’t wait around for April 20. We need to start strong.”
That’s the reality of his situation — the team needs to prove it can thrive without him before he can truly help them soar.
The Road Ahead
Tatis will continue ramping up throughout March, with plans to play five innings in Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Angels. The Padres want him to log at least 40 at-bats before the regular season begins April 6 against Colorado.
Medical staff will monitor his surgically repaired left wrist, which required surgery in March 2022 after he broke it in a motorcycle accident — another judgment call that raised eyebrows. The injury, combined with the suspension, has limited him to just 130 games over the past two seasons.
“The wrist feels 100 percent,” he said while flexing his left hand. “No limitations, no pain. I’m ready to play 150-plus games this year and help this team win a championship.”
One swing doesn’t erase eight months of questions, but it’s exactly the kind of statement Tatis needed to make. The real test comes when he returns to face major league pitching that knows exactly how to attack him.
For now, though, the kid can still rake.
