The San Diego Padres enjoyed the return of top rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. Thursday, as he played for the first time after more than a month recovering from an injured hamstring.
Tatis seemingly picked up right where he left off before he got hurt April 28, getting a hit, scoring a run and also getting on base via two walks. He raised his batting average to .304 in the comeback win – the Padres overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Washington Nationals 5-4.
The shortstop returned to the club as the Padres opened up a four-game weekend series against the Nationals at Petco Park.
“Seeing the games on TV, seeing the boys playing, I just wished I could be in the field,” Tatis told MLB.com. “It was a very long month.”
Tatis, 20, is ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 overall prospect, MLB.com reported. According to the report, he played two rehab games with the Padres’ AA-affiliate, Amarillo, where he went 2-for-5 with three walks and a stolen base.
Padres manager Andy Green told MLB.com that the team will watch Tatis closely and keep him from playing every day initially.
The Padres are in third place in the National League West, 1 game behind the second-place Colorado Rockies and 11 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
– Staff reports
