Padres Reveal Target Return For Fernando Tatis Jr. (Sort Of)

The long-awaited return of Fernando Tatis Jr. is inching ever closer. And it can't come fast enough for the San Diego Padres, who just got swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tatis started his rehab assignment in the minors this week, and Padres manager Bob Melvin is optimistic about a return "mid-August-ish."

Bob Melvin, as close as he’s come to offering a timetable, says the Padres are targeting “mid-August-ish” for Fernando Tatis Jr.’s return. No, he wouldn’t elaborate on that.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 7, 2022

Tatis went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks in his first game at Double-A San Antonio,  then went 0-for-3 in his 2nd game Sunday night.

His arrival in the majors was so sudden, as a 20-year-old in 2019, he never actually had to play a game at Triple-A. That will change, according to reports, this coming week.

Fernando Tatis Jr. has never played in Triple-A.
Plan is for him to go to El Paso at some point in the coming week.
The Chihuahuas are home through 8/14.
"Mid-August" is target for his return, per Bob Melvin. Padres begin a series in Miami on 8/15. Begin a homestand on 8/18.

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) August 7, 2022

Padres beat reporter Kevin Acee notes that the Padres' homestand that begins on August 18th could be a potential return ("ish", as Melvin would say).

In his 3-year career thus far, the dynamic superstar has hit .292 with a .965 OPS, including a 42 HR, 97 RBI season last year in just 130 games.  

He's missed the entire season to this point after breaking his wrist in a motorbike accident last offseason.

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