San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin on the return of Fernando Tatis Jr. this spring: "You watch him take BP yesterday he looked like he never left"
Fernando Tatis Jr. is still a couple of months away from taking the field with his San Diego Padres teammates, with most involved with the organization breathlessly awaiting his return.
Tatis, currently under suspension by Major League Baseball after failing a performance-enhancing drug test last August, is able to practice with the Padres at their Spring Training complex in Peoria, Arizona.
His manager, Bob Melvin, told Darnay Tripp of NBC 7 San Diego that he has been pleased to see the superstar back in action, and that Tatis' shoulder is feeling great, but that his wrist will take "a bit more time." Both were surgically repaired late last season.
"Knock wood it's been fantastic," Melvin said. "You watch him take BP yesterday he looked like he never left, was never hurt."
Bob Melvin on how Fernando Tatis Jr. has looked:
"Knock wood it's been fantastic. You watch him take BP yesterday he looked like he never left, was never hurt."
Said Tatis feels great with the shoulder, the wrist will take a bit more time. Having shoulder surgery is paying off. https://t.co/MLWGhXIouF
Fernando Tatis Jr. is still not eligible to play in a game for the Padres until at least April 20, when his PED suspension lifts. When he returns, he will be shifting from the infield to the outfield, as San Diego signed former Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts this winter to play the same position with the Padres.
Melvin confirmed on Tuesday that another San Diego superstar, outfielder Juan Soto, will move from right field to left field this season.
"Left is what we're going to work on with (Soto), and we're going to try to keep him in that one spot," Melvin told MLB.com.
While no official announcement has been made, most believe this move was made to install Tatis Jr. in right field upon his return.
The Padres began experimenting with Fernando Tatis Jr. in the outfield in 2021. In addition to his 102 games at shortstop, Tatis Jr. played 20 games in right field and seven in center field.
San Diego currently has defensive wizard Trent Grisham steadfastly planted in center field, but right field is wide open with the move of Soto to left. New Padres acquisition Matt Carpenter could play right field until Tatis is ready to return.
Fernando Tatis Jr. likely ready to put 2022 behind him
Fernando Tatis Jr. was well on his way to becoming one of the main poster kids of MLB after a stellar first three major league seasons. He was third in the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year balloting, placed fourth in the 2020 NL Most Valuable Player vote, and was third in the 2021 MVP chase.
Over three seasons, he logged a .292 batting average with a .965 WHIP. He led the NL with 42 home runs in 2021 and made his first All-Star Game appearance.
However, an offseason motorcycle accident kept him off the field for much of the 2022 season. Then, just before he was about to return in August, MLB handed down the PED suspension and ended his year.
Still just 24 years old, Tatis Jr. has plenty of time to make up for the lost season as the on-field leader of a star-studded Padres lineup in 2023.