Fernando Tatis Jr.'s return from his 80-game PED suspension likely won't be a feel-good story everywhere he goes, especially outside San Diego.
Take, for instance, his stop in Sacramento, Calif., the Triple-A affiliate of the NL West-rival San Francisco Giants.
Not only was Tatis booed as he rounded the bases — and hopped before third base — following the first home run on his rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, the opposing pitcher later took to Twitter to call the Padres' $340 million superstar a "cheater."
Giants minor league right-hander Kade McClure, 27, quote-tweeted a video of the home run as follows:
"cheater hits a homerun on a rehab assignment during a steroid suspension."
The 24-year-old Tatis was playing in the second game of his 15-day rehab assignment as he ramps up for his projected return to the big league team on April 20.
He addressed the prospect of playing in front of hostile crowds at Padres FanFest.
"The good part of being in this game is you have memories," Tatis said in February. "I feel like I've seen everything this game can bring you, what the fans can bring you. And I'm definitely looking forward to that challenge. It's gonna be fun. It's gonna be one of the most emotional years I feel like in my career and looking to embrace it and I'm looking to what is going to come."
Tatis also walked twice and struck out while playing six innings in right field in El Paso's 8-5 win over Sacramento.
Thursday is a scheduled day off for Tatis.
Shortstop Matt Batten (1.029 OPS) and third baseman Yorman Rodriguez (1.083) both drove in two runs on two hits. Both also hit their second double of the season.
Catcher Pedro Severino (1.225) went 2 for 4 with two walks and a run scored.
Right-hander Pedro Avila (7.94 ERA) struck out four and allowed four runs in five innings in the start.
Relievers Jake Sanchez (9.00), Angel Sanchez (0.00), Ray Kerr (0.00) and Moises Lugo (0.00) all turned in scoreless appearances, with Lugo earning his first save of the season.
El Paso is 3-2.
