San Diego Padres competitive, but need Fernando Tatis Jr.’s bat

Baseball is three weeks away from the All-Star break and San Diego Padres All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. still has not made his 2022 season debut. The Friar Faithful is patiently waiting for his return, but the rumble of restlessness is beginning to be felt inside Petco Park. Have no fear, Tatis Jr. is still one of the top players in the majors today.

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s season debut for the San Diego Padres delayed by fractured left wrist

The young superstar is recovering from surgery on his fractured left wrist. He was expected to miss the first three months of the regular season, but the rehabilitation process has been slow as the team’s progress reports were disappointing and drained the fan’s optimism of his return.

No one should question if Tatis Jr. has put in the work while he has been out. The cautious approach taken is trying to guarantee that he will be fully healthy and ready to contribute. His return to the field is expected for the beginning of July until further notice.

Let’s not forget that Tatis Jr. battled a nagging shoulder subluxation injury throughout last season. It forced him to miss time as he went on the injured list twice in 2021. Despite his physical struggles, Tatis Jr. kept himself in the NL MVP chase even though he played only 130 games.

San Diego Padres are competitive, but cannot wait for return of Fernando Tatis Jr.’s bat

Thankfully, the Padres have remained competitive in the National League West standings. The team is currently in second place with a 45-30 record as they trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by two games.

The return of Tatis Jr. brings a solid contributor to the Padres as he is a trendsetter in the sport. The Friars gain an impactful bat at the top of the order. Tatis Jr. consistently puts the ball in play and his bat will become more lethal once he settles back into his normal routine. Plus, his presence will lift the clubhouse as the team will be whole once again.

Once he is reinstated from the injured list, where to reinsert Tatis Jr. in the batting order? Having him lead off is a no-brainer as Tatis Jr. has a career .369 on-base percentage. All of San Diego’s recent success over the last two seasons stems from Tatis Jr.’s production at the top of the lineup.

Usually, his first at-bat sets the tone for the game. The sign that Tatis Jr. is on the right path will be him driving the baseball to the gaps with power.

Dominance still part of Fernando Tatis Jr.’s offensive attack with the San Diego Padres

Shockingly, Tatis Jr. has not reached the prime of his career yet. At 22, his career batting average is .292 with 81 home runs, 195 RBI, and 210 runs scored in 1,036 at-bats. If he did not miss any playing time, Tatis Jr. would be on pace for another 120+ runs scored, 40+ home runs, 110+ RBI, and 30+ stolen base season.

The Friar Faithful can expect his batting average to suffer as it is hard for him to pick up from where he left off last season. At first, the lack of spring training will hurt Tatis Jr.’s timing at the plate. Also, his batting average suffers a bit because of his high career strikeout (28%) percentage..

However, one hot streak at the plate from Tatis Jr. could gain the Padres some distance in the standings from their rivals for a postseason berth. It can happen that quickly as we have not seen a ceiling with Tatis Jr.’s power production. His return to the lineup could begin a destructive path against major league pitching in all offensive categories.

The Padres must be cautious with their approach once Tatis Jr. returns to the lineup. It is wise to take out any risk from the equation. The Friars cannot afford to have him leave a game after aggravating or feeling discomfort in his left wrist. Tatis Jr. should not play until he feels ready to help the Padres win games.

The timetable for Tatis Jr’s return has changed, but do not forget that he is a generational talent.