“You didn’t really 100% for sure know how he was going to respond once he did come back and start playing. One additional element of this is whatever uncertainty there was about when Tatis would be able to play in 2022 – and how that might affect the lineup – is now gone. “So that’s kind of how you have to treat the Tatis situation.” If somebody got injured along the way here, we’d still feel good about our team,” Melvin said. was in the box against Rangers reliever Juan Nicasio on Aug. Melvin figures those new faces will help make the absence of Tatis for the remainder of this season – he’ll also miss the start of next season – easier to deal with. San Diego Padres phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. Padres general manager AJ Preller boosted his roster ahead of the trade deadline earlier this month, adding sluggers Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Nationals, closer Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Brandon Drury from the Cincinnati Reds. San Diego entered Saturday’s game against Washington with a record of 64-51. Tatis had surgery in mid-March and had been expected to join the Padres soon to help them make a push for an NL wild-card berth they’re currently third in the race for one of those three spots. But Tatis had not played at all in 2022 because he broke his left wrist in the offseason – in what is believed to have been a motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic.

Some other Padres players were critical in their comments after Friday’s game, including pitcher Mike Clevinger, who talked about being “disappointed” in Tatis and hoping the shortstop realizes “it’s about more than just him right now.”Ī talented hitter and fielder, Tatis led the National League with 42 home runs last season, pairing with third baseman Manny Machado to give the Padres a feared middle of the order. The first-year Padres skipper said he did not feel the need to discuss the Tatis suspension with other players again before Saturday’s game at Nationals Park.Īsked by a reporter whether he would want Tatis to speak to his teammates about what happened, Melvin replied: “I don’t know where and when that would potentially happen, so I’m not sure at this point.”

San diego padres shortstop