Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was feeling better a day after coming out of a game due to left shoulder discomfort, leaving the San Diego Padres and their fans breathing easier.
Hes feeling really good today. In fact he was lobbying to get in the lineup today, so I thought that was very encouraging, manager Jayce Tingler said Wednesday during a videoconference from Peoria, Arizona.
Hes going to have a good work day today and well kind of see where it goes. I think everybodys kind of expecting him to be back in the lineup in the next day or two. Very encouraging news,” he said.
The sight of the electrifying 22-year-old suddenly leaving Tuesdays game after making a backhanded play was a jolt to the Padres, who have high expectations for this season coming off San Diegos first playoff appearance in 14 years. Tatis has quickly become one of the faces of baseball, and last month he signed the longest deal in major league history, for 14 years and $340 million.
Tatis fielded the ball hit by Cincinnatis Jonathan India, made a one-hop throw to first base and then began walking off the field. He was met by Tingler and a trainer. After a few minutes in the dugout, Tatis headed toward the clubhouse accompanied by a trainer.
He felt it during the reach coming across right there, Tingler said. I dont know if it was a little bit of a stinger or what the deal was but just had a little bit of shock right there.
Tingler said after Tuesdays game that Tatis has been dealing with a minor shoulder issue for a few years.
The manager said Wednesday that the Padres need to stay on top of the situation.
Im proud of the fact that Tati said something. Realistically, if were in-season, he probably doesnt say anything and he continues to play through it, Tingler said.
Right now hes being very mature, very responsible, understands the timeline of where were at. I think its good for him to say something right now and its just something as a group coaches, trainers, strength coaches weve got to be on top of and continue to monitor and make sure were doing all our exercises to maintain a strong, healthy shoulder,” he said.
Tingler doesnt know when Tatis first encountered the shoulder issue and didnt know the medical term for it.
Right now it just kind of pinched reaching for the ball. As far as has it been looked at? Of course its been looked at. Obviously he just did a very nice deal and were very thorough with those things. Look, there are no surprises here.
Tatis is hitting .391 in 10 exhibition games, but it hasnt been a smooth spring for him. He missed time with flu-like symptoms and then jarred himself after diving headfirst into home on a flyball to shallow left field in a game on March 13. That slide might have aggravated the shoulder issue, and it kept him out of several games.
Tatis has bloomed into a superstar despite not yet having played the equivalent of a full 162-game season. A hamstring injury and a stress reaction in his lower back limited him to 84 games during his rookie season of 2019, and last season was shortened to 60 games due to the pandemic. Tatis has played in 143 games, hitting .301 with 39 homers and 98 RBIs.
Tatis has endeared himself to fans with his hard-charging style of play, both defensively and especially on the basepaths. Hes vowed not to change, and the Padres dont want him to change, either.
I think its just something weve got to be ultra-aware, Tingler said. Yesterday was on a backhand. Hes going to play his game. The best thing is just continuing to talk to him about, when we get a chance to go feet first vs. headfirst, and sometimes just plays happen naturally. But as much as we can, to keep him sliding feet first instead of headfirst, that can be something to help him maintain it.
I think the most important thing is being incredibly disciplined with the treatment and making sure youre doing all the shoulder exercises to strengthen all the small muscles around the shoulder to make sure its as mobile and strong as possible.
___
Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson
___
More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here
Comments
0 comment