SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. said he will take “a couple more days” to decide whether he will participate in the Home Run Derby.
“It’s 50-50 right now,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “It’s one of my dreams to come true. But at the same time, we have to be smart, see how my body is, see how the shoulder is. We’ll take it from there.”
Tatis’ left shoulder popped out of its socket when he hit the ground after diving to try to field a grounder Saturday. He missed Sunday’s series finale against the Reds but returned Monday against the Dodgers and went 2 for 3 with a double, two walks and a stolen base.
Tatis leads the National League with 22 home runs and is third with 14 steals, one behind co-leaders Trea Turner and Ronald Acuña Jr.
Tatis’ childhood friend, Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., shares the major league home run lead at 23 with the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani.
“Me and Vlad were just kids talking about it a couple years ago,” Tatis said. “Now we’re here doing it. We have seen it happen in front of our eyes.”
Tatis, 22, has altered his follow-through as part of the precautions against reinjuring his shoulder. He said Tuesday part of the consideration of whether to do the Home Run Derby is concern he might overswing in the excitement of the moment.
Tatis suffered what at the time was his second dislocation in two weeks on a hard swing April 5. He spent 10 days on the injured list and did not have any significant issues with the shoulder until Saturday, a span of 49 games in which he hit .297 with a 1.080 OPS and 21 of his homers.
He said he was initially worried about a significant injury after jarring his shoulder Saturday but knew a short while later that the incident wasn’t severe. Once a shoulder dislocates, it becomes easier to dislocate repeatedly.
“I’m staying on top of it,” Tatis said. “I’m exercising every single day.”
Tatis leads National League shortstops in All-Star votes. He would be the first Padres player voted an All-StarGame starter since Tony Gwynn in 1999, about six months after Tatis was born. Gwynn was injured that summer and did not participate in the game. Gwynn’s 1998 All-Star start was the last by a Padres position player. Wil Myers was named the NL’s starting DH for the 2016 All-Star game at Petco Park.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Tatis said. “It’s one of those moments you dream of as a kid — going to the All-Star Game and being a starter in the All-Star Game. Hopefully it happens.”
The Home Run Derby is July 12 at Coors Field, the day before the All-Star Game.
