With only 20 days left before the spring training starts for the 2023 season, MLB teams are gearing up for their season-long action. When talking about the San Diego Padres, even though Fernando Tatis Jr. is set to miss the first few games of the regular season, he is not leaving any stone unturned in making a powerful comeback. He might not be joining the team at the start of the regular season, but he will be preparing himself with them in the spring training, which is merely days away.

Recently, to garner all the good luck and wishes possible, the Padres went on a community tour. That, undoubtedly, also involved Tatis Jr. With him joined the Padres pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Yu Darvish. Together, the three of them spent time with one of the most important communities in America. 

Where did Fernando Tatis Jr. spend time with his teammates?

Tatis and the Padres pitchers went on the flight line at Miramar to spend time with one of the most elite forces, the Marines. From the looks of it, every member of the naval infantry looked happy to see the players. They got in a group to get their baseballs signed by the players and got pictures clicked with them. 

Aside from meeting the Marines on the flight line, other members of the team went to the Walker Elementary School in Mira Mesa. A few of them went to meet with their friends at the Monarch, surprised the students at Sunset Elementary, spent time with local healthcare workers, visited the Heartland Fire Department, and many other places in California. 

When is Tatis Jr. supposed to return on the diamond?

For those unversed, the shortstop spent four months of the 2022 regular season on the injured list. He did so for rehabbing a fractured left wrist. Then after his nine at-bats in August, he got suspended for 80 games. It happened after he violated MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He had tested positive for taking an anabolic steroid, clostebol. 

Read More: Star Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Drops Yet Another Sneak Peek Ahead of His Comeback in the 2023 MLB Season

And now, the athlete is fit enough to play in the 2023 season. But he’ll have to miss the first 20 games to complete his suspension. However, the Padres star is eligible to join the team in Spring Training starting on February 24. 

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How did you like the Padres’ community tour? Which player do you want to meet the most? Let us know in the comments below!