Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. will have rehab process delayed following MRI

The San Diego Padres will have to wait longer than initially expected for the return of shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.

Tatis has yet to play this season after suffering a fractured wrist during the offseason.

On Tuesday, Padres general manager A.J. Preller told reporters that Tatis’ rehab process will be delayed. An MRI on Tatis’ wrist Monday did not show enough healing for Tatis to get approval to begin swinging a bat and playing in rehab games.

“Another MRI scan continues to show healing, [but it] was not quite at the level for Dr. [Donald] Sheridan to give a full green light,” Preller said. “So we’re going to be in a spot where we progress week-to-week.

“This is all about the long term and a long relationship with Fernando and his career,” Preller continued. “We’re going to be more cautious, and this probably falls more in line with that.”