Padres 'optimistic' SS Fernando Tatis Jr. can return Friday

San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has given fans multiple worrisome injury scares since the second half of March but is on track to return to action from a subluxation of his left shoulder for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, Padres manager Jayce Tingler said the club is "optimistic" the 22-year-old will be available for Friday's matchup after he took batting practice ahead of Thursday's game at the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Tatis suffered this latest setback while swinging at the plate during the April 5 showdown with the San Francisco Giants and can first be activated off the injured list on Friday. He needs to be cleared by the team's medical department before he's made available either on the bench or in the lineup. 

"We're optimistic that he has a good chance to be ready to play tomorrow," Tingler explained. 

Tatis hurt the shoulder during spring training on March 23 and, per Gonzalez, has dealt with a total of three similar issues across 23 days. Since April 1, he has only three hits in 18 at-bats with seven strikeouts. 

Tatis agreed to a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with San Diego in February.