San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
TATIS MAY RETURN IN THE OUTFIELD
Fernando Tatis Jr. is expected to return by the end of the month.
The Padres may have a way for it to be a little sooner and/or for him to play more when he returns sometime after the All-star break.
It seems Tatis will play some in the outfield.
“We’re not ruling anything out,” Bob Melvin said.
“If I’m helping the team, it doesn’t matter for me where I’m playing,” Tatis said.
There are some things that occasionally putting Tatis in the outfield would accomplish.
Foremost, it would be less taxing on him than his immediately running out to shortstop for nine innings every night. Thus, it is conceivable Tatis playing outfield early could mean a quicker return.
“That is one thing,” Tatis said. “That’s right.”
While there is the designated hitter spot available, the Padres have some other options there. (At least they hope other guys are hitting well enough to justify being in the lineup regularly.)
Tatis moving to the outfield would also enable the Padres to have Ha-seong Kim continue playing, at least semi-regularly.
And while right fielder
Wil Myers could return from his knee injury as soon as late next week or early the week before the All-star break, Tatis gives the Padres another option in the outfield. One with some sorely needed punch. Their outfielders have combined for 18 home runs, tied for fourth fewest in the major leagues.
Tatis, who had wrist surgery in March and earlier this week was told by his surgeon that he would be cleared to swing full-go off a tee by July 12, has been fielding balls in the outfield for a month. At first, he exclusively did it on days he would then move to the infield for extensive work. Both he and coach Matt Williams explained the outfield work helped get Tatis’ arm in shape.
Lately, including Friday, Tatis has spent some days only working in the outfield.
Tatis played 23 games in the outfield the final monthand-a-half of 2021, 16 in right field and seven in center.
Which spot would he play this season?
“It depends on where the need would be,” Melvin said. “That’s how talented he is.”
Thanks to his exceptional athleticism, Tatis worked serviceably well in the outfield in 2021. He has looked more comfortable chasing down fly balls this year.
“I have always been a good outfielder,” Tatis said. “I learned how to be an outfielder as a kid. It’s always been there.”
Said Melvin: “This guy could be a Gold Glover anywhere we put him.”
Catching on
Jorge Alfaro returned to the starting lineup Saturday at designated hitter after being limited the previous three games with right knee inflammation.
That meant Austin Nola caught a fourth straight game for the first time this season and just the third time with the Padres.
“I’m enjoying the heck out of it,” Nola said. “… That’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I mean, that’s my goal — to be playing as much as possible.”
Alfaro is expected to catch today, so Nola won’t match his season high of five straight games set while with the Mariners in 2020.
Reliever updates
Pierce Johnson (forearm tendinitis) is playing catch from 120 feet and is expected to throw his first bullpen session next week. That would likely peg August as his earliest return.
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who is returning from flexor tendon surgery, has thrown several bullpens, but he and the team continue to take a measured approach to his return. Pomeranz was the Padres’ most effective reliever in 2020 and ’21, when he was on the field.
Lefty Adrian Morejon (shoulder) is playing catch from 90 feet. He will need to progress to 120 feet before getting on a mound.
Notable
Myers, out since June 3 as he works back from a knee injury, took on-field batting practice for the second time Saturday and is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts, whose 17 home runs are tied for sixth most in the National League, could be activated off injured list as soon as today. Roberts said Betts, who primarily plays right field, will play second base when he first returns.
kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com