San Diego Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. took one step closer to returning to the major leagues Tuesday by beginning a minor-league rehab assignment.Tatis, who remains under suspension until April 20 after failing a performance-enhancing drug test last April, reported to the Padres' Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas and batted leadoff against the host Sacramento River Cats.As the team plans to move Tatis to right field upon his return to major-league play, he played the position Tuesday. At the plate, he went 1-for-2 with two walks, one run scored and one RBI before being replaced in the latter innings.Talkin’ Baseball@TalkinBaseball_El Paso Chihuahuas legend Fernando Tatis Jr.165345El Paso Chihuahuas legend Fernando Tatis Jr. https://t.co/pEAxd9eSdkFernando Tatis Jr.'s name is still a little more than two weeks away from being announced in the San Diego Padres starting lineup, but news that he was on the field for the team's top minor-league team had fans of both player and team salivating. Many people were ecstatic, perhaps a little too ecstatic.ramado (padres ws szn)@ohhellno4711@TalkinBaseball_ soon to be ws mvp21@TalkinBaseball_ soon to be ws mvpexpensive pain🇲🇽@_idontmiss69_@BRWalkoff @MiLB the legend is coming@BRWalkoff @MiLB the legend is comingFritz@SDFritz@MiserableSDFan @madfriarskevin I just came.@MiserableSDFan @madfriarskevin I just came.Tuesday's game was the first time that Tatis has played at the Triple-A level. In his MLB-debut season in 2019, he was called to the big leagues directly from Double-A San Antonio.Many possibly non-Padres fans are endorsing the idea of leaving Tatis in the minor leagues all season long.Tim Keiss@Timmy_Timmah@TalkinBaseball_ What's funny is I'm pretty sure this is his first time ever playing at AAA level31@TalkinBaseball_ What's funny is I'm pretty sure this is his first time ever playing at AAA levelM0u3e@M0u3e_@FarmToFame_ @TalkinBaseball_ @epchihuahuas Heard he’s a good prospect if he’s stays out of trouble@FarmToFame_ @TalkinBaseball_ @epchihuahuas Heard he’s a good prospect if he’s stays out of troubleAndrewRudd🇺🇸@AndrewR68971666@TalkinBaseball_ Keep him there the whole season@TalkinBaseball_ Keep him there the whole seasonOf course, some baseball fans will never forget that Fernando Tatis Jr. was indeed busted by MLB for using performance-enhancing substances.Brian Orlando@Mrabsurd17@TalkinBaseball_ Hey its the steriod user!2@TalkinBaseball_ Hey its the steriod user!dabeardo69@beardo_07@TalkinBaseball_ Cheater@TalkinBaseball_ CheaterOút Mengland@OutMennyland@TalkinBaseball_ ROID boy1@TalkinBaseball_ ROID boySome San Diego Padres fans just got a little bit odd with their impressions of Tatis' first official game back.mensrea@HaSeongsRim@MiserableSDFan @madfriarskevin why does tatis look like he has breeding hips2@MiserableSDFan @madfriarskevin why does tatis look like he has breeding hipsFernando Tatis Jr. expected to re-join San Diego Padres on April 20Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres high fives teammates during a Spring Training gameFernando 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 has plenty of time to make up for the lost season as the on-field leader of a star-studded Padres lineup in 2023. His likely season debut is set for April 20 when San Diego opens a four-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks.