2 min read • July 17, 2022
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The Padres cleared star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. to begin his hitting progression on Friday, the most significant step in his current five-week rehab ramp-up from left wrist surgery.
The Pro Baseball Docs remain confident that Tatis Jr. won’t return this month and are looking at early August, perhaps August 7, as a target date for the 23-year-old to be back in the Padres’ lineup.
His seemingly slow and extensive rehab is normal for this left wrist scaphoid fracture and hasn’t suffered any setbacks, the Docs say.
Healing for this type of fracture – a delayed union fracture that Tatis suffered in December but didn’t have repaired until March 14 – is gradual and a four-to-six month timeline was always expected.
The delayed CT scans, long period of immobilization, and hitting progression would only be considered setbacks following A.J. Preller’s optimistic three-month timeline that the Docs have been steadfast wasn’t realistic.
The key question now, as Tatis is two weeks into a projected five-week swing progression, is when is it safe enough for Tatis to play?
The perennial MVP candidate is nearly impossible to reign in, a characteristic that contributes to his special talent and reverence from fans.
The Padres are taking this decision on Tatis's return date with extreme caution, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, and are deciding internally when it will be safe to put him back in the lineup.
The best-case scenario for all involved is for Tatis Jr. to return to the Padres with no limitations and with no risk of setbacks now or in the future.
That is why the Docs have targeted the first week in August, the projected finish line for his swing progression that Acee described on June 28.
That would have Tatis Jr. in the fold at full-go for the final 50 games while the Padres, 51-41, fight for an NL Wild Card spot.
Tatis Jr. has been electric since his MLB debut in on August 13, 2019, batting .292 with a .965 OPS, 81 home runs, 195 RBI, 210 runs, and 52 stolen bases in 1,036 at-bats.
Tatis Jr. played through five separate shoulder dislocations in 2021, missing 30 games across three absences that likely took him out of the MVP race, but still put up a .975 OPS, 42 home runs, and 6.6 WAR.
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Fernando Tatis Jr. is important to Padres, and there are a lot of cooks in the kitchen affecting decision of when & how he begins his swing progression. Doctors that have been confering are not in total agreement re: next steps. This isn't necessarily bad. It is extreme caution.
