Fernando Tatis Jr. Could Miss First Half Of The San Diego Padres’ Season With A Wrist Injury

The San Diego Padres reported to spring training under sunny skies, despite a black cloud which continues to find star shortstop Fernardo Tatis Jr.

Tatis sustained a broken left wrist in the offseason, which was revealed during the players’ physicals in Arizona, and he could miss the first half of the upcoming season.

After battling shoulder issues last year which derailed the Padres’ playoff aspirations, Tatis, and the team, now have another body part to fret about for a player in the second season of his 14-year, $340 million contract.

In the offseason Tatis was involved in what the Padres described as a minor accident on a motorcycle in the Dominican Republic. It’s not clear if Tatis was injured during that mishap, or if he fractured it elsewhere.

What’s also not clear, according to Padres general manager A. J. Preller, is if Tatis’ compromised wrist will require surgery. If so, that extends Tatis’ time on the shelf.

The Padres, who had an epic second-half collapse last year which cost manager Jayce Tingler his job, had hoped for a quick start after finishing 28 games behind the NL West-champion San Francisco Giants.

There was optimism, with the hiring of well-respected manager Bob Melvin away from the Oakland Athletics and the return of health to some of the Padres’ starting pitching, that his year would be different.

Instead it’s likely the Padres, who have produced a losing record in 10 of their last 11 seasons, will be minus their best player for an extended period of time.

Tatis, who was restricted to 130 games in 2021, led the National League with 42 home runs and was No. 3 in the National League Most Valuable Player Award balloting.