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Fernando Tatis Jr. activated from 60-day injured list by Padres during playoff push
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    Fernando Tatis Jr. activated from 60-day injured list by Padres during playoff push

    SAN DIEGO — Star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was activated from the 60-day injured list Monday by the San Diego Padres after being sidelined for more than two months with a stress reaction in his right thighbone.

    He went 0 for 4, but did advance two runners in the two-run eighth inning in a 3-0 win against the Detroit Tigers.

    Tatis last played on June 21. He was put on the injured list on June 24, retroactive to June 22.

    He received ovations when the lineups were announced and when he ran out to his defensive position at the start of the game, when he was gesturing to the fans and clapping.

    “It’s a beautiful feeling, man,” he said. “I wish I could put it into words, but I had goosebumps, and my energy went right through the roof. And that was the push that I definitely needed and it was just beautiful all the way around.”

    He spent last week working out at the team’s spring training complex in Arizona.

    Tatis received a warm welcome in the clubhouse, including an emphatic hug with center fielder Jackson Merrill, considered by some to be the leading contender for NL Rookie of the Year.

    “I’m in a really good place right now,” Tatis said before the game. “It’s not 100%, but I’ve been cleared from the doctors and I feel really good moving forward. I feel really confident and I feel like I can do anything out there on the baseball field.”

    On the day he was placed on the IL, Tatis said he had been dealing with the injury for essentially the whole season. It was first described as a quadriceps injury, but the team discovered the stress reaction after imaging.

    The Padres moved past Arizona and into the NL’s first wild-card spot.

    “I’m really excited to just come and join the squad,” Tatis said. “Just add a little bit more to what this group has been doing. I said the day I was going down this is a special group and I know they’re going to be playing good baseball, and the boys have been handling it the right way.”

    Tatis won the NL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards last year in his first season in right field.

    He was an All-Star at shortstop in 2021 before missing the 2022 season due to injury and a PED suspension.

    Tatis was hitting .279 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs when he went on the IL.

    Merrill said he’s “ecstatic” that Tatis is back.

    “Energy is contagious. It’s going to rub off on everybody, especially his energy, his swagger. It’s huge,” Merrill said.

    “It’s fun to write him in there. He brings a lot to the table, obviously,” manager Mike Shildt said.

    Outfielder Bryce Johnson was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

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    The San Diego Padres received a major boost to their lineup as they activated star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. from the 60-day injured list. Tatis had been sidelined since July with a shoulder injury, but his return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Padres as they make a push for the playoffs.

    Tatis, who is just 22 years old, has quickly become one of the most exciting and dynamic players in all of baseball. In just his third season in the majors, he was putting up MVP-caliber numbers before his injury, hitting .292 with 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases in just 88 games.

    His return gives the Padres a much-needed offensive spark as they try to secure a spot in the postseason. The team has been struggling recently, losing seven of their last ten games and falling out of the top spot in the NL Wild Card race.

    Tatis’ presence in the lineup not only adds a dangerous bat but also brings energy and leadership to a team that has been missing its spark in recent weeks. His ability to hit for power, steal bases, and make highlight-reel plays in the field make him a game-changer on both sides of the ball.

    With Tatis back in the lineup, the Padres have a legitimate shot at making a deep playoff run. His return should provide a much-needed boost to a team that has been struggling to find consistency down the stretch.

    Fans of the Padres are surely excited to see their young star back on the field and ready to help lead the team to victory. Tatis’ return couldn’t have come at a better time, and his impact on the team’s playoff push could be significant.