San Diego Padres fans fired up by Fernando Tatis Jr.’s home run in practice and imminent Spring Training debut: "This dude is gonna win MVP"

Fernando Tatis Jr. will see his first game action since 2021 as he will be the San Diego Padres' designated hitter in the team's spring training game on Tuesday. Padres manager Bob Melvin made the announcement to reporters on Monday.

Just when life couldn't get much better for Padres fans after news that Manny Machado is finalizing a contract extension to stay in San Diego for the next 11 years, Monday started off with images of Tatis walloping a home run off Padres starter Michael Wacha in batting practice, as well as Melvin's announcement.

Padres fans can barely contain themselves at the double-shot of good news regarding Fernando Tatis Jr.

Padres fans are not shy about their thoughts on how well Tatis will perform this season after missing the entirety of 2022 due to injury and suspension.

It's been a long, cold winter. The sight and sound of Tatis slamming baseballs over a wall has many fans feeling tremendously optimistic for the upcoming season. It also apparently has them feeling many other sensations as well.

While Tatis Jr. is eligible to play in spring training games, he remains under suspension until April 20 after failing a performance-enhancing drug test last April. Seeing their superstar take the field again for the first time since the end of the 2021 season will be a big day for Padres fans.

Fernando Tatis Jr. likely ready to put 2022 behind him

Fernando Tatis Jr. was well on his way to becoming one of the main poster kids of MLB after a stellar first three major league seasons. He was third in the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year balloting, placed fourth in the 2020 NL Most Valuable Player vote and was third in the 2021 MVP chase.

Over three seasons, he logged a .292 batting average with a .965 WHIP. He led the NL with 42 home runs in 2021 and made his first All-Star Game appearance.

However, an offseason motorcycle accident kept him off the field for much of the 2022 season. Then, just before he was about to return in August, MLB handed down the PED suspension and ended his year.

Still just 24 years old, Tatis Jr. has plenty of time to make up for the lost season as the on-field leader of a star-studded Padres lineup in 2023.

About the author

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Tom has covered sports since 2004. Tom grew up a fan of the Chicago Cubs because his dad didn't like the hometown Twins playing indoors. He goes to Wrigley Field several times a year. His favorite sports moment was being at Wrigley when the Cubs won the 2016 National League Pennant.

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