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Diaranson 15 Juni 2022

Padres star shortstop Tatis Jr can't swing a bat just yet

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fer- Tatis had a three-month "give a full green light," Prel- brings a swagger both at the missed time with a trouble-
nando Tatis Jr.'s surgically follow-up exam in Arizona ler said. plate and in the field. some left shoulder that led
repaired left wrist hasn't on Monday with Dr. Don- The shortstop, who signed Slugger Manny Machado has the Padres to play him in the
progressed to the point ald Sheridan, who operated a $340 million, 14-year con- had an MVP-caliber start to outfield for several games as a
where the electrifying All- on his broken wrist in mid- tract before the 2021 season, the season, and the Padres precaution.
Star shortstop can start March. has been doing a number of have a strong rotation topped The son of the former big
swinging a bat, general activities, including taking by local product Joe Mus- league infielder, Tatis made
manager A.J. Preller said The MRI exam "continues ground balls, throwing and grove, who leads the majors his big league debut in 2019.
Tuesday. to show healing," but not running. Swinging a bat will with a 1.50 ERA. Kim Ha- "We've said this from the be-
enough for the doctor to begin the last major step his seong, who signed with the ginning, this is all about the
comeback. Padres before last season out long term and a long relation-
"The full go, start swing- South Korea's KBO League, ship with Fernando and his
ing the bat, playing in rehab has made the bulk of the career," Preller said. "We're
games, that's going to be starts at shortstop. going to be very cautious. ...
more of a week-to-week de- Tatis finished third in voting I think we'll continue to get
cision here going forward," for NL MVP last season af- good news and continue to
Preller said. ter hitting .282 with 42 home progress as we go into the
Otherwise, the doctor felt runs, 97 RBIs and 25 sto- next couple of weeks. He's
positive about Tatis' strength len bases in 130 games. He made a lot of progress."
and range of motion, Preller
said.
Tatis, 23, reportedly was in-
jured in an offseason mo-
torcycle accident in his na-
tive Dominican Republic.
Although there were social
media posts at the time that
showed Tatis' wrist wrapped
up, the extent of the injury
wasn't known until he re-
ported to spring training.
The Padres have pulled into
a virtual tie with the rival Los
Angeles Dodgers atop the
NL West without Tatis, who