Padres place Fernando Tatís Jr. on 10-day IL due to stress reaction in leg
Tatís Jr. could return in early July or after the MLB All-Star break
Fernando Tatís Jr. is heading to the 10-day injured list due to what the San Diego Padres' medical staff diagnosed as a right femoral stress reaction. The 25-year-old has not played since Friday while battling tightness in his right quadricep for the past few weeks.
Not only is Tatís Jr. dealing with that, but he also has a left triceps bruise from when he was hit by a pitch on Friday by Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea.
In his last at-bat of the night, #Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. got hit in the elbow. He initially stayed in the game but was pinch hit for in his next at-bat. Possible injury.
It is something to monitor. pic.twitter.com/WLIh4hJsLQ— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) June 22, 2024
Padres manager Mike Shildt initially said there was a chance of using Tatís Jr. to pinch-hit, but an IL trip was needed after further evaluation showed that rest was necessary for Tatis to recover fully.
Shildt said a timetable for Tatís' return isn't clear. He could be back in the Padres' lineup in early July or not until after the MLB All-Star break.
“It’s a huge gap,” said Tatis about the timetable for his return. “I don’t want to put it out there because people are going to expect stuff. But it’s going to be some time. We know with the right stuff we’re trying to aim after the All-Star Game, but we’re talking about something serious in my bone, in my right leg.
“It can get worse and we don’t want that. I was playing through it and I probably could have kept going but the doctors recommended to heal it now so that way it doesn’t get worse. It’s just better that way.”
Tatís has played in 80 games this season and is slashing .279/.354/.468 with 14 home runs and 36 RBI.
The Padres currently sit second in the NL West and hold the final NL wild-card spot with a 41-41 record.
