Fernando Tatis Jr. Has Fractured Wrist; Padres Star Likely to Have Surgery on Injury

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. suffered a fractured wrist while preparing for the 2022 MLB season.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller confirmed the shortstop will undergo surgery and could miss up to three months.

San Diego opens the season on April 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tatis took his game to another level in 2021, leading the National League in home runs (42) while finishing with a .364 on-base percentage and a .611 slugging percentage.

His production was all the more impressive since he suffered a partial dislocation of his shoulder last April. The shoulder injury lingered throughout the season and landed him on the injured list last July.

Once the season ended, Tatis declined to have surgery on his shoulder

Because of the injury, the 23-year-old’s defense suffered in a big way. The Padres eventually experimented with him in the outfield for a brief period.

The bigger concern for Tatis is how his shoulder might impact him going forward. San Diego sent a message when it signed him to a 14-year, $340 million extension, and it hinged a lot of its future on his performance.

While not a consequence of his shoulder issues, the fractured wrist will add to the questions over his long-term durability.