San Diego Padres general manager AJ Preller said on Monday that star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. could require surgery to repair a fractured left wrist he suffered during the offseason.
That surgery could potentially take up to three months of Tatis’ regular season.
It’s awful news to a Padres team that wants to return to contention in 2022, and while it has the pieces to do it, Tatis is, by far, the most important.
Speaking to media on Monday, Tatis said he hasn’t made a decision whether to undergo surgery or not.
Tatis says he first felt his wrist flare up about a month ago. "Nothing crazy, I thought it was something we could work through," he said. Obviously, it wasn't. Tatis still hasn't made a decision on surgery. Appears likely that's where it's headed though.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) March 14, 2022
In any case, the timetable for his return would be about the same with or without the surgery: mid-to-late June.
The star infielder, a legitimate MVP candidate a year ago, said the issue started to “flare up” about a month ago and he thought it was “something he could work through.”
The Lockout Messed Things Up
For the look of things, it could have been a consequence of a “minor” accident he suffered in the Dominican Republic back in December, although he didn’t specify it.
“Fernando Tatis Jr. says a couple minor incidents in the off season is what likely led to the fracture. Said it could have been anything. He also says without the lockout it definitely could be a different story right now. #padres,” were the words of Padres reporter Allison Edmonds.
Fernando Tatis Jr. says a couple minor incidents in the off season is what likely led to the fracture. Said it could have been anything.
He also says without the lockout it definitely could be a different story right now. #padres pic.twitter.com/PlbPZ2s6DV
— Allison Edmonds (@aedmondstv) March 14, 2022
Tatis’ injury could have been reported or treated during the offseason, but since there was a lockout, players weren’t allowed to talk to team physicians and doctors.
Chalk up the consequences of this injury to the lockout, and the league’s decision to implement it.
Now, San Diego has to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants for three months without its best player.
NEXT: MLB Insider Shares Awful Update On Fernando Tatis Jr.
