Following the completion of his 80-game drug suspension, Fernando Tatis Jr. knows he’ll be the target of opposing fans’ ire all season long.
If his actions on Tuesday night were any indication, Tatis looks like he’ll embrace playing the role of the villain when he and the San Diego Padres are on the road.
During the fifth inning of the Padres’ 6-0 loss to the Cubs, fans in the Wrigley Field bleachers could be heard chanting, ‘He’s on steroids!’ at Tatis while he was playing in right field.
Instead of ignoring the fans, Tatis broke into an impromptu dance routine.
Tatis was hit with an 80-game suspension last year after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol he said was used to treat a case of ringworm.
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The suspension carried over into this season before he was finally eligible to rejoin the Padres on April 20.
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Earlier this season while Tatis was playing in minor league games, he got a taste of what life might be like when he returned to the majors.
He hit three home runs in a game against Class AAA Sacramento and a pitcher who allowed one of the homers called Tatis a ‘cheater’ in response to a social media clip of the blast.
Eventually, the best way to silence critics is not by dancing, but by performing on the field. In that regard, Tatis has a bit more work to do. On Tuesday, he went 1-for-4 with a walk, was caught stealing and he struck out to end the game.
For the season, Tatis is hitting .182 with one homer and three singles in 22 at-bats.