Fernando Tatis Jr. Starts Rehab Assignment Ahead of Return to Padres

His 80-game suspension is up on April 20.

Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday as he works his way back to San Diego ahead of the end of his 80-game suspension, stemming from last season. 

Tatis will feature for the El Paso Chihuahuas on Tuesday night. He’s expected to bat leadoff and will be playing right field for the Padres’ Triple A affiliates, the team announced on Tuesday. Tatis participated in Spring Training for the MLB club, but is not yet eligible to return to regular-season games. 

The 24-year-old will need to spend a bit more than two weeks ramping up ahead of the conclusion of his suspension, which runs through April 20.

Leading off and playing RF: El Niño!

Fernando Tatis Jr. begins his MLB Rehab tonight in Sacramento.

Photo credit: @Padres pic.twitter.com/4cRH0XGw5E

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 4, 2023

Once back on the field, Tatis will look to re-establish himself as one of the league's bright stars. He missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing wrist surgery to repair an injury he sustained in a motorcycle accident during the offseason. He was then suspended 80 games by MLB, putting an end to his season, and keeping him sidelined at the start of 2023. 

Following the acquisition of Xander Bogaerts in free agency, the Padres are expected to move Tatis to right field, and it looks as if he’ll be getting some in-game reps during his stay at Triple A El Paso. 

In his most recent season back in 2021, Tatis slashed .282/.364/.611 with 42 home runs, 97 RBI, and 25 stolen bases, winning the Silver Slugger award and finishing third place in National League MVP voting.