SAN DIEGO – One silver lining to Padres’ long post-season career is that they will be able to count on their short-lived star to get 12 more games in 2023.
Given that every game Padres played in the qualifiers counts as part of Fernando Tates Junior’s suspension, the club now knows when the Basque player’s initial return will be. If there are no changes to the schedule, Tates will return on April 20, in what will be the start of a four-game series in Arizona (although that date is subject to change, pending any chance of rain or other factors.).
In August, Quisqueyan was suspended for 80 matches because she tested positive for consuming a banned substance. The penalty ended in securing a 2022 loss for Tates, who spent the first four months of the season in rehab after left wrist surgery.
“I spoke to him during the post-season,” Padres coach Bob Melvin said. “I couldn’t wait to help the team and come back. I think he has a different perspective on things now. He’s hungry to come back and be a part of this – and to help the team go further than we did.” [este año]. It is important”.
“But now he is focused on being healthy,” he continued. “Go back and be part of the group. Lose it.”
Without Tatis in the lineup, the Padres managed to reach the NL Championship Series before being eliminated in five matches by the Phillies.
During the Padres postseason, Tatis underwent a second operation on his left wrist, with the aim of definitely strengthening it in the future. At the club’s closing press conference on Tuesday, club general manager AJ Preller spoke about the procedure for the first time.
“There have been questions about his long-term recovery and where he will be in 7-10 years,” Briller said. “We spoke to many experts across the country and [Tatis] He was the one who made the decision. Let’s go and fix [la muñeca]. Everyone was satisfied.”
The surgery was different from the one on his left shoulder in September. He has had several issues with his shoulder strain during the 2021 season. This procedure comes with a recovery period of 4-6 months, but it will help prevent further dislocation.
Despite the two recent surgeries, Padres expects Tates to be healthy by the start of spring training. During the suspension period, Tates will be eligible to participate in the Padres camp, but will have to withdraw from the team once the regular season begins.
In all, Tates will miss the team’s first 20 games next season.
“Determining when he is out of the game, away from the team, that of course is a positive,” Briller said. “Having two more weeks of hopefully Fernando Tates Jr. is healthy should be a positive thing for us.”
Then, of course, there’s the big question: Where could Tates play in 2023? Ha-Seong Kim emerged as a key player in 2022 and an exceptional defender.
Tatis had previously expressed his desire to primarily play shortstop. But before his suspension, as the team was preparing to return in mid-August, Padres had planned for him to play a short and midfield role. (The idea was to be able to alternate right-handed Kim and right-handed Trent Gresham.)
“He wants to win,” Briller said. “We’ll sit down and have that conversation. He knows baseball. Understand the game. We’ll talk to him about what we think is best. We’ll listen to what he thinks and what he wants to do, but in the end we’ll do what we think is best for the group.”
In the end, everything can depend on what other movements the Preller makes that are not suitable. Kim is a versatile player, as is second base officer Jake Cronworth. Theoretically, the Padres family could have moved Kim to second and Kronworth to first. However, San Diego will also be on the market this winter for a first baseman.
In any case, Briller was clear when asked for the first time on Tuesday what position he would like Tates to defend in 2023.
“This position is going to be on the ground,” Briller said. “Maybe for 145 games. This position would be the best.”
For Padres, this will be a big change from the 2022 campaign.
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