Breaking: Fernando Tatis Jr. To Return For Padres Against Tigers

Jeremy Hanna | Sep 2, 2024

Jun 20, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres are currently battling with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the top wild-card spot in the National League. Additionally, they are only five games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in Major League Baseball.

With 23 games left in the regular season, the Padres are going to need all the help they can get if they want to continue their success in the playoffs.

Fortunately, they just got one of their best players back.

According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres’ star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. will be making his return from injury tonight against the Detroit Tigers.

This news comes shortly after Padres manager Mike Shildt told reporters that Tatis wouldn’t need a rehab assignment coming off of IL.

“He’s hitting on the back fields,” Shildt said. “It’s more set up as simulated games. We have a defense and a pitcher. It’s like a game but in a controlled setting. He can get a lot of at-bats and see a lot of pitches from right-handers and left-handers … fastballs."

Tatis has spent the last 72 days on the injured list with a stress reaction in his right femur. Before that, he actually played with the injury because it was believed to have been a quad strain.

Despite that, Tatis led San Diego with 14 home runs and ranked 13th in the National League with an .821 OPS before landing on IL.

Even without Tatis, the Padres have found massive success due to multiple players stepping up. Most notably, designated hitter Manny Machado has boasted a .889 OPS and 16 home runs since Tatis was out.

Additionally, rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill has had a breakout year with 21 home runs and a .892 OPS. Tatis’ replacement, David Peralta, has maintained a .288 batting average and a .810 OPS in his absence.

Still, the Padres are happy to have Tatis making his return, including infielder Jake Cronenworth.

“What he provides is like nothing else,” Cronenworth said. “It’s going to be a huge boost for us when he does come back.”

Even if he wasn’t able to make his return, Tatis is proud of how the Padres have performed in his absence.

"It's been amazing. I said it on the day everybody knew I was going on the IL that it's a great team," Tatis said. "Not a single player can carry any team. It's a really good team. I'm happy for what we have accomplished together.

"The boys picking up every single guy; it's not one guy, it's everybody — the entire lineup, the entire rotation. The bullpen is lights out. Those boys have been outstanding. I'm really happy with my team. It's a great group of guys we have over here."

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