Fernando Tatis makes his return from PED suspension for the Padres, Rockies defeat Phillies

Fernando Tatis Jr. is back with the San Diego Padres, bringing his signature flair to the game of baseball. He also comes back with a little humility.

The 24-year-old will play on Thursday for the first time since an 80-game regular season suspension that shocked and angered his teammates, management and a fan base. He hits the leadoff and plays right field against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“It’s like my debut in the big leagues – those nerves again,” Tatis said before the game. “Just happy to be here, grateful for the opportunity. We still have a long way to go, so we can’t wait to contribute.”

Tatis’ maturity has come under scrutiny in recent years, since he signed a 14-year, $330 million contract ahead of the 2021 season.

Tatis missed the entire season last season after breaking his left wrist – reportedly in a motorcycle accident in his native Dominican Republic. He was on the brink of that when his PED suspension was announced on August 12. He blamed his positive test on a cream he said he used for ringworm.

The Padres still made it to the NL Championship Series before falling to the Phillies.

He was one of the game’s top sluggers from 2019 to 2021, hitting .292 while crushing 81 homers, including an NL-best 42 during the 2021 season. Nicknamed El Niño, Tatis also plays the game with a flair that makes him quickly made him one of the game’s most recognizable and popular players.

“Few players get such exposure from their first game of the season – and rightly so,” said Padres manager Bob Melvin. “It was made to play this game.”

The Padres had a short team meeting before Thursday’s game to officially welcome Tatis back. Some teammates were critical of Tatis when his suspension was announced last summer, but in all likelihood his return has been celebrated.

“You’re doing some soul-searching at the time,” Melvin said. “You realize how lucky you are to be a big league player. When you come back from something like that, you’re kind of humbled and grateful. He’s nothing but easygoing, easygoing.’

Tatis’ recent stint with Triple-A El Paso, in preparation for his return to the big league, was a reminder of how good he can be. He was 17-of-33 with seven home runs and 15 RBI’s in eight rehab games, hitting .515/.590/1.212. Early in Tatis’ rehab stint, San Francisco Giants minor leaguer Kade McClure called him an “imposter” on Twitter after allowing the suspended player a giant home run.

Tatis said there wasn’t much he could do about the barbs.

“It will come,” Tatis said. “Everyone has freedom of speech in this country, so I can’t help that. I just keep playing this game and enjoy every part of it.”

The Padres hope Tatis’ return can shake up a team that has had a slow start. San Diego has the third-highest payroll in baseball, but started with a 9-11 record and ranks third in the NL West.

Despite the suspension from the PED, Tatis was allowed to play during MLB spring training. He has moved to the outfield to make way for Xander Bogaerts, who signed an 11-year, $280 million contract in December to play shortstop.

“It’s big, man,” Bogaerts said earlier this week about Tatis’ return. ‘Time heals a lot. What I’ve seen so far is someone who wants to come in and show everyone that he’s still the real deal and that what he did was a mistake and he wants to show that he’s grown up from that.”

Fernando Tatis Jr. prepares to bat during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game

DODGERS 6, CUBS 2

James Outman hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the ninth inning for his second homer of the game, and the Los Angeles Dodgers cooled off the Chicago Cubs with a 6-2 victory on Thursday night.

The Dodgers activated an outfielder Mookie Betts off the paternity list and recalled right-hander Andre Jackson from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Right-hander Evan Phillips was placed on the paternity list and infielder Yonny Hernández was chosen for the top farm club on the team. Betts’ wife gave birth to their second child on Tuesday.

Betts had a pinch-hit single in the seventh, then stayed in the game at shortstop. It was his first career appearance in the position. He grounded out in the middle in the eighth and started a nice double play.

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers congratulates James Outman after grand slam

ROCKIES 5, PHILLIES 0

Ryan Feltner threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, CJ Cron homered and the Colorado Rockies broke an eight-game losing streak on Thursday night with a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Justin Lawrence struckout four batters in 2 1/3 strong relief innings and Pierce Johnson threw a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout.

Mike Moustakas had an RBI double for the Rockies, who recovered from a shelling in a three-game sweep by the Pirates at home, in which Pittsburgh defeated the Rockies 33-9 while collecting 43 hits.

Ryan Feltner of Colorado Rockies pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

YANKEES 9, ANGELS 3

Anthony Rizzo singled in the opening run in a five-run first inning, went 3 for 3 with a pair of walks to help New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-3 on Thursday to take two of three in the high-profile matchup of MVPs.

“The fact that we don’t have nine guys on the right side of the field definitely helps a lot more,” said Rizzo. “It’s not really in the back of my mind when I’m hitting, but more afterwards or even when other guys are hitting.”

Rizzo hits .344, fourth in the American League and up from .224 last season. He has four home runs, 10 RBIs and a 1,027 OPS.

With the increase in shifts over the past decade, the left-handed batting average steadily declined from what was a range of .273 to .293 from 2014-19.

Anthony Rizzo of the Yankees hits an RBI single in the first inning of the game against the LA Angels

PIRATES 4, RED 3

Connor Joe and Jack Suwinski hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, Roansy Contreras shutout in the seventh inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates held off the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Thursday-evening.

Joe hit a three-run blast to center Luke Weaver (0-1) to open the scoring. Suwinski followed with a shot into the right field stand to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead.

That was the only offense the Pirates – who didn’t get a hit after the second inning – needed, as they won for the 12th time in 17 games since losing two of three to the Reds in Cincinnati to open the season.

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Connor Joe rounds second on a three-run home run

RED SOX 11, MINNESOTA 5

Jarren Duran lined out off Kenta Maeda’s ankle, knocking the Twins starter out of the game, and another off the Green Monster during a six-run third inning on Thursday to take the Boston Red Sox to an 11-5 victory over to lead Minnesota.

Maeda (0-3) gave up a home run to Alex Verdugo to take the lead from the bottom of the first inning and left trailing 1-0 after taking Duran’s 111 mph line runs from his left ankle in the second inning. The right-hander Twins made the play to get the first out and end the inning.

X-rays were negative.

Kenta Maeda (18) gets on-field assistance in the second inning of a baseball game