Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is barnstorming Triple-A cities, taking his immense talent to small parks around the country.
Tatis is allowed to pay minor league games while serving his 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. His rehab assignment began in Sacramento against the Giants’ affiliate, and the drama has already followed him.
In his second game for the El Paso Chihuahuas, Tatis took Giants prospect Kade McClure deep for a towering home run.
After the game, McClure chirped Tatis on Twitter, calling him a “cheater.”
McClure allowed two runs on six hits in 2.2 innings during the game. He had a strong spring training for the Giants, impressing coaches with a 2.70 ERA in six Cactus League games.
Tatis is eligible to return to the star-studded Padres on April 20. He’ll surely face more vitriol then, just from big leaguers instead of prospects.