Fernando Tatis Jr. went back to the clubhouse after hurting himself on this swing pic.twitter.com/iQh81fkwjU
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 6, 2021
SAN DIEGO — The Padres and Major League Baseball want one of the bright young stars in the game to be seen, but not like this.
In Monday’s third inning at Petco Park, Fernando Tatis Jr. took a vicious hack on an Anthony DeSclafani curveball, whiffed and completed his swing, his left arm ending up overextended behind him, and he abruptly dropped his bat. He crumpled to the dirt and was down for about a minute before he walked off with Padres trainers. He was holding his left arm as he walked off, but there was no immediate update on his condition.
It was strike three of the at-bat, and Ha-Seong Kim replaced him in the field.
Tatis, the 22-year-old wunderkind, is one of the best talents of his generation and finalized a $340 million contract this offseason that keeps him in San Diego for 14 years. He’s a big part of the reason the Padres believe they can overthrow the Dodgers this season, and a prolonged loss of the superstar would be painful for everyone involved.