Fernando Tatis Jr. goes 0-for-...

On Thursday, Fernando Tatis Jr. participated in a major league game for the first time since October 3, 2021. Although everything didn't go as the San Diego Padres had intended, just one game had been played.

Tatis played right field, his new regular position after the Padres signed All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts in free agency last offseason, and went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts while batting leadoff in his eagerly anticipated 80-game PED return on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tatis at least contributed a standout defensive play.

As Tatis first stepped into the batter's box, there were audible booing and applause, which was to be expected. For the foreseeable future, he can certainly anticipate a similar response in any stadium outside of San Diego. The game was won by the Padres 7-5.

Tatis made his comedic comeback following a stellar rehab stint with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. He hit 17 for 33 in eight games, driving in 15 runs on two stolen bases and seven home runs.

Tatis still has plenty of questions to answer

Tatis had a difficult trip home because he missed the full 2022 season due to circumstances unrelated to the ban. He allegedly shattered his wrist in an offseason motorbike accident when he was at home in the Dominican Republic and started the previous season on the disabled list.

Tatis took a while to recuperate, but in August he finally seemed to be making progress. When the ban took effect on August 12, he was just about to make his MLB comeback, but it ended his season before it ever got started and cast doubt on his future with not only the Padres but with the entire game of baseball.

Tatis was found to have a positive test for Clostebol, a prohibited ingredient he and his father said was in a contaminated ringworm drug. Whatever the reason, Tatis embarked on a protracted apology tour and chose to take advantage of the unscheduled time off to have his shoulder surgically repaired after dislocating it five times in 2021.

After more than a year away from the field, a significant shoulder operation, a critical wrist injury, and all while playing a position other than the one at which he first rose to fame, Tatis is now back, and the Padres will examine whether he can still be the same player.