Padres Still Don’t Know When Star Fernando Tatis Jr. Will Return

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2021
San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2021. Photo by Thurman James/CSM/Shutterstock (12523146bb)

The San Diego Padres will have to wait a bit longer before seeing their star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. on the field again. This was confirmed by the team’s general manager A.J. Preller on Tuesday.

Tatis has been out since March, when he underwent wrist surgery to repair an injury he suffered during the offseason. The Padres were optimistic that the 23-year-old could return at some point in June, but a recent CT didn’t show enough healing for that to happen.

According to Preller, Tatis is “not quite at the level” required for swinging a bat and didn’t recover enough to get “a full green light.” It is unclear at the moment when the 2021’s NL home run leader will have his next evaluation.

Fernando Tatis Jr. emerged as one of the biggest young stars in baseball in recent years. He made the All-MLB First Team in the past two years while becoming an All-Star in 2021. Tatis wrapped up the last season batting .282 with 42 homers and 97 RBIs.

Tatis’ absence didn’t prove to be a significant handicap for the Padres as many initially believed. Instead, the team managed to keep pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the battle for NL West supremacy and currently owns a 39-24 record. 

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