Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. won't need shoulder surgery

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (C) is looked at by a trainer after injuring himself during a swing. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. won't need surgery for shoulder injury

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 4/7/21

The San Diego Padres and Fernando Tatis Jr. avoided disaster this week.

Although Tatis has been placed on the 10-day injured list, he will not need surgery for his shoulder injury, Padres general manager A.J. Preller said Tuesday, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is not scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder at this point as the #Padres remain cautiously optimistic while collecting information from doctors.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 6, 2021

Tatis suffered the injury on a hard swing during Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The Padres said he suffered a shoulder subluxation, which is a partial dislocation of the joint.

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

The 22-year-old has experienced minor dislocations in the past, but Monday's incident was the most pain he had ever been in, Padres manager Jayce Tingler said.

Tatis has struggled through the first five games of the season, slashing .167/.286/.333 with one home run and one RBI. If he's ruled out for an extended period of time, He-Seong Kim would be next in line to start at shortstop.

The Dominican signed the longest contract in Major League Baseball history in February, agreeing to a 14-year, $340 million deal with the Padres.

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