LAS VEGAS — Where will he play? Where is he? When will he start working on the field? What is his mindset?
As it has been and will be for some time, the topic of Fernando Tatis Jr.'s progress back from shoulder and wrist surgery and what the plan is when he is healthy and his PED suspension is over was prominent this week when Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller spoke with the media.
Where Tatis plays in the field could be somewhat dependent on some of the things Preller began working on in earnest at the GM Meetings here over the past three days.
"We'll make sure he's real clear and what the expectations are, definitely get his feedback some more as we kind of see what the options are for the roster and how he fits in," Preller said Thursday. "But I think I said it a few weeks ago — getting him back on the field is the priority. But we'll get more into that as we get into the offseason. We'll get more into what position that looks like, or if it's going to be playing multiple spots."
Tatis played in center field and right field near the end of 2021 and was slated to spend time at shortstop and center field in '22 before being suspended 80 games for a failed PED test.
His natural position of shortstop was manned capably by Ha-Seong Kim this season.
"He definitely showed he can play shortstop every day in the big leagues," Preller said of Kim. "And that's probably as tough a thing as there is to do in the game. … Ha-Seong is one of the better defensive shortstops in the league. But Tati in 2020, he played almost error-free baseball for those 60 games. Our best team has them both on the field."
Kim could play second base, at least occasionally, with Jake Cronenworth moving to first base. Tatis playing second base has not been ruled out, but the Padres do not see him as a viable option at first base both because they can likely find decent production at that spot elsewhere and they don't want to risk injury in a collision with a runner.
The Padres do need a first baseman — or as Preller put it, "some type of first base-DH"— as well as a left fielder if Jurickson Profar leaves via free agency. They also seek a right-handed hitting outfielder for a possible platoon with Trent Grisham in center.
So while there is some thought in the organization that Tatis would simply be best staying at shortstop, the possibilities are plentiful.
"He's super talented, he's a great athlete, he can play a lot of different positions," Preller said. "So he gives us a lot of options. And we'll try to get that a lot more clear here in the next (few) weeks."
Tatis is in the Dominican Republic, in regular contact with Padres officials via phone and checking in regularly with the team's physical therapists in that country.
Tatis had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in September and had surgery to bolster the initial repair on his left wrist in October. He will be eligible to return from his suspension in the season's 21st game (April 20) and can participate in spring training. He can begin a rehab assignment in the minor leagues April 5.
The plan remains for Tatis to spend the bulk of the offseason in San Diego with the expectation he begins on-field work shortly after the new year.
"We've kind of targeted January," Preller said. "So whether that's Jan. 1 or mid-January, we'll see where it goes. He'll get some checkups between now and then both on the shoulder and the wrist and make sure he's healing properly. I think we all saw last year … hopefully things go well. But if everything goes well, at some point in January we'll start the baseball activity."
Tatis has not spoken publicly since August, but Preller has consistently characterized the 23-year-old as having gone through a transition in terms of maturity.
"He's hungry to come back and I think he knows he's got he's got some doubters out there and some people rightfully so; he knows he made a mistake," Preller said Thursday. "I think he was excited about the team's success (in the postseason), but I know he wants to be a big part of it. So I think all of those kind of mixed emotions from his standpoint. He's had a good last couple of months in terms of, you know, just owning up to the mistakes. Having the (shoulder) surgery is a good step. He's been diligent so far in his rehab. I think he's as excited as anybody to come back and he's got a lot to prove. I think that's kind of in the mindset I get from him."
