Fernando Tatis Jr Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Minor league pitcher blasts Fernando Tatis Jr. on Twitter after Padres star hits HR off him

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/6/23

San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. blasted the first home run of his minor-league rehab stint on Wednesday, as he makes his way back from his lengthy PED suspension.
The Triple-A pitcher who served up the long ball then blasted the slugger on Twitter Wednesday night, calling him a "cheater."

**cheater hits a homerun on a rehab assignment during a steroid suspension** https://t.co/1gTgo9Pa8a
— Kade McClure (@kademcc) April 6, 2023

Man, woke up to some juiced up padres fans
— Kade McClure (@kademcc) April 6, 2023

Tatis Jr. has gone through quite a journey over the last two-plus years.

The 24-year-old signed a monster 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the Padres ahead of the 2021 season, before he put together a huge All-Star campaign (his only one thus far). Tatis Jr. got into a motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic over the winter heading into the 2022 campaign and had his first wrist surgery in March 2022.

In mid-August, weeks before he was slated to finally make his 2022 debut, he was suspended 80 games for violating MLB's PED policy. Tatis Jr. underwent shoulder surgery last September and had his second wrist procedure in October.

Now, the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner is at last nearing a return to the big leagues, as he'll be eligible to play with San Diego on April 20.

Since Tatis Jr. last played with the Padres, the team has added a boatload of superstar talent, including stud shortstop Xander Bogaerts on a 11-year, $280 million deal. With "X" now in the infield, Tatis Jr. is slated to move to right field.

While Tatis Jr. is sure to receive many cheers at Petco Park (especially if he reverts to his All-Star form), don't expect for him to get much love when the Padres are on the road this season.

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