Padres News: First Spring Lineup Unsurprisingly Doesn't Include Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando Tatis Jr. isn't in the Padres' starting lineup for their spring opener, something manager Bob Melvin said earlier this week would probably be the case.

Earlier this week, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reported that Padres manager Bob Melvin said Fernando Tatis Jr. wouldn't be playing in San Diego's spring training opener. That opener is today against the Mariners, and Melvin is true to his word.

Padres' lineup for first spring training game is heavy with big names and WBC participants.

Bogaerts SS
Machado 3B
Soto LF
Cruz DH
Kim 2B
Dixon RF
Campusano C
Rivas 1B
Azocar CF

SP: Martinez

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) February 24, 2023

Tatis, of course, missed all of last season due to a wrist injury and a PED suspension, and once he was suspended anyway, he went ahead and had the shoulder surgery he'd been putting off. He's also moving from his traditional spot at shortstop to right right. So there's a lot of Tatis's plate as he gets ready to play for the first time in 17 months while recovering from surgery and learning a new position.

Melvin did say to expect to see Tatis relatively soon, although there weren't specific details on whether than means Saturday against the White Sox or a week from now. He also didn't say whether Tatis would get some action on back-field games before appearing with the big-league team in a game.

Tatis is hoping to bounce back from last year's debacle. He rejoins a lineup that suddenly includes Xander Bogaerts, Juan Soto, and Nelson Cruz along with holdover Manny Machado, which should relieve some pressure to immediately produce at an MVP level. For San Diego's part, they're just hoping Tatis can come in fully healthy and quickly regain the strength in his surgically repaired shoulder.

Tatis is going into the third year of a 14-year, $340 million contract he signed with the Padres prior to the 2021 season. He wasn't part of the active roster last year when his teammates beat the Mets in the Wild Card Series and the Dodgers in the NLDS before falling to the Phillies in the NLCS.