NO SURGERY FOR TATIS, FOR NOW
STAR PLACED ON INJURED LIST, COULD BE BACK APRIL 16
Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. will not undergo shoulder surgery but instead was placed on the 10-day injured list with the hope that his shoulder inflammation subsides.
Good news, for now. Fernando Tatis Jr. will not undergo shoulder surgery but instead was placed on the 10-day injured list with the hope the inflammation subsides and stability increases in his left shoulder, which was dislocated on a swing in Monday’s game.
That prompted fears he could be out for as long as the entire season. Now, the Padres hope he can return as soon as the Dodgers series that begins April 16 at Petco Park.
“This is not something we feel like long term we’re putting him at risk if he continues playing this season,” Preller said. “… There is always the chance he could have another incident. At that point in time, we’ll evaluate from there.”
Preller indicated MRI results Tuesday showed Tatis’ shoulder to be in similar shape to when he had his MRI during the physicals conducted prior to signing his $340 million contract in February. Multiple sources have said in recent weeks and repeated Tuesday that his aggravating
the injury as he did Monday was practically inevitable. The question was whether it was going to happen this season or in the future.
It remains possible, if not likely, that Tatis requires surgery to repair the tear in his labrum after the season — or before that.
But Tatis felt better Tuesday, and the exams he underwent gave the Padres
confidence their most dynamic player will still help them this season without hurting his chances to do so in the remaining 13 years on his contract.
The big picture, though, is playing as close to 162 games as possible — rather than splicing another highlight or three onto the reel.
As opening day approached, Tatis was asked about whether he might tweak his decision-making and approach at times to safeguard his body.
“No,” Tatis said flatly. “I don’t feel like I need to modify nothing. You keep learning through the years. You keep learning about your body every single time. I think changing the way I play, I don’t think it’s a thing … you can say.”
Who knows how the wild slides, collisions and sprawling defensive plays chipped away at a fragile shoulder? Given that it’s been a thorn for so long, the injury was likely to force a decision at
some point anyway. A bit of self-applied bubble wrap can only help, though.
Manager Jayce Tingler said the team has talked with Tatis about decisionmaking on the field in the past. He added that the Padres will seek advice from their doctors, trainers and sports science staff about specific directives moving ahead, such as eliminating headfirst slides.
“I think (those consultations will) help us set some plans and things going forward,” Tingler said. “What are the limitations? What do we need to do? I know we’ve got ideas and we’ve had talks and stuff like that with him.”
Preller said they’ve discussed style of play and positioning with Tatis at “different times in the past” and conversations will grow moving ahead.
Tatis has admitted his goal was to stay on the field more.
“I’m more hungry than last year,” he said. “I just can’t wait to bring 162 to these people that have been waiting.”
This season was supposed to be the national launching pad for Tatis and the Padres. This was artfully built to be the season the franchise truly pushed and challenged the Dodgers. This was the beginning of, well, everything.
Now, it’s a continuing question mark … five games in.
“It’s not something you learn in a certain instant,” Padres outfielder Wil Myers said Tuesday, when asked how players manage their health for baseball’s annual grind. “I think that’s just something that kind of comes with time. Everybody finds a way to play their best to stay healthy for a long season.
“I think you find your routine in the weight room,
your routine in the training room, things like that. Each player knows their body, knows what can get tight quicker than other things and knows what to stay on.”
The uncomfortable truth: Tatis has not played anywhere close to a full season or the equivalent of one in his two-and-change. The Padres surely did their due diligence on the shoulder, though, given how long the injury has lingered and the Mount Helix-sized pile of cash they prepared to commit.
Tingler indicated Sunday that Tatis’ slow start was due, in part, to pressing and trying to impress, given the dried ink on the longest deal in MLB history. He was hitting .167 with a .286 onbase percentage, seven strikeouts in 18 at-bats and an alarming five errors.
It was more than that, as everyone found out.
“Nothing crazy,” Tatis recently said, when asked about the severity of the shoulder injury. “I’ve been here before. Just regular (treatment) for my shoulder, for both of my shoulders. It’s nothing I feel like people should be worrying about or be concerned (about). I feel in a great spot and I feel 100 percent.”
Older and far more experienced infield-mate Manny Machado has said Tatis will learn how to blend some on-field wisdom with his wide-open approach.
Tatis acknowledged his dreadlocks-on-fire playing style has been a factor.
“Have you seen me play? Diving, swinging, a little bit of everything,” he said. “It’s part of the game.”
The math is simple. More games with Tatis is better than fewer.
Deep down, you hope he understands that, too.