Padres’ Tatis Jr. returns in lineup for 1st time since 2021

San Diego Padres will play again for the franchise versus Arizona Diamondbacks as Tatis Jr. returns after an 80-match PED suspension.

The #Padres have optioned OF Brandon Dixon to Triple-A El Paso, reinstated OF Fernando Tatis Jr. from the restricted list and transferred RHP Robert Suarez to the 60-day IL.

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 20, 2023

The young star of the Padres got a $330 million, 14-year deal before the beginning of the 2021 season.

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Fernando was unavailable last season with a broken left wrist that happened in an accident with a motorbike in his birth country Dominican Republic.

Then Tatis Jr. recovered and was close to returning but was given PED suspension on August 12^th. Fernando explained that the positive test that caused the PED penalty was because of cream for ringworm.

San Diego reached NL Championship Series without him but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.

“It’s big, man,” Bogaerts said of Fernandos’ return a few days ago.

“Time heals a lot. But, so far, I’ve seen 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.”