Fernando Tatís Jr. is likely out for the start of the baseball season.
The San Diego Padres' star shortstop has a fractured left wrist and may need surgery, which could put him out for three months, according to general manager A.J. Preller.
Tatís said he has not yet decided if he will undergo the surgery or let it heal on its own.
The injury, which occurred during the offseason, was discovered during a physical at the team’s training facility in Peoria, Arizona, after a lockout that delayed the start of spring training came to an end last week.
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During the lockout, the players were not allowed access to the team’s official medical or training staff, according to Preller, who added that Tatís may have been checked out sooner if training was in session.
Preller said doctors think the break happened a couple of months ago but could not confirm it happened when Tatís was in a motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic.
Tatís said the crash left him with bumps and bruises, but he did not think he had any major injuries, so he didn’t pursue further medical attention at the time. When he started to swing at the Peoria complex, he felt pain in his wrist, prompting an X-ray, where the injury was discovered.
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The break is a blow to a team that was looking for a fresh start following a brutal late-season collapse that left it with yet another losing record.
Padres manager Bob Melvin said Ha-Seong Kim will likely fill in for Tatís until his return.
Tatís, 23, had a series of injuries to his left shoulder last year, when he still led the NL with 42 home runs and finished third in balloting for the NL MVP.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
