When San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. left the field late Monday night, preciously holding his injured left shoulder in place, you can bet my first thought (not only as a fantasy baseball manager but also as a baseball fan), was that we had another Eloy Jimenez situation. Sure, they hurt their wings in vastly different ways, but we already know the Chicago White Sox outfielder is out until at least August -- and possibly all season. The Tatis injury looked bad ... very bad.
It still might be very bad but, for now, after the Padres inspected their most important player (and, by the way, one of the top five options in fantasy baseball), the news appears to not be so grim. Tatis suffered a partial dislocation of the shoulder joint, and the organization announced that surgery is not necessary. Tatis does head to the injured list, but fantasy managers can breathe a cautious sigh of relief ... for now. Perhaps he returns to the field later this month, which I would call a more realistic and successful scenario.
Ten days would be impressive. More impressive would be back in 10 days and no issues ROS. The fact that he's had multiple episodes - and worsening of symptoms - makes recurrence risk higher. No surgery now is great news. But can he swing fully w/o apprehension? We'll see. https://t.co/5W6idbImIR
— Stephania Bell (@Stephania_ESPN) April 7, 2021
When ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell talks, we all should listen. We'll see. Fantasy managers would like something better than "We'll see" but hey, it is not a Jimenez situation, so that is indeed positive. It could be, though. As Bell has often said, we know the greatest predictor for future injury is past injury. Tatis entered the 2020 season with the "brittle" label, deserved or not, but then he competed in 59 out of 60 games. Now he is down again, hurting his shoulder on just a swing. I drafted Tatis in the first round of a draft mere hours before Monday's game and felt good about it. Now, not so much.
Fantasy managers should not panic here, obviously. Nothing good comes from that. However, I do think it is fair to note that if I was drafting today, Tatis would not be among my first-round selections. He'd be more like a mid-second rounder. Perhaps he misses only a few weeks and returns to hit like a first-round pick must, but there is added risk. This is his left shoulder, his front shoulder when he hits. It would be bad news if it keeps popping out of the socket -- and we've learned that Tatis has experienced minor dislocations in the past. That would tend to suppress power -- and suppress games. You bet I am concerned.
If I had to do the same again, I would, my friend
I doubt that any of the Trea Turner, Trevor Story or Francisco Lindor investors in your fantasy leagues are eager to trade those players for Tatis at this time. Frankly, I am not so interested in trading away Tatis -- especially just one week into the season -- for far less than his potential worth. He can still hit .284 with 36 home runs and 96 RBI this season, as per his realistic ESPN Fantasy projection. It would be difficult, but he is talented. Perhaps he'll miss only 10 days and resume his march towards Cooperstown. The Padres don't seem to see this recurring injury as derailing him in either the short- or long-term. Do. Not. Panic. (Yet.) Positivity!
The Padres will turn to Korean import Ha-Seong Kim to handle shortstop duties and, while 12 big-league plate appearances in the first week tell us little, we know he has modest power and speed. He averaged 21 home runs and 21 stolen bases over a six-year span, albeit while facing considerably lesser pitching than he will now. The Padres could also play surprise Jake Cronenworth at shortstop, with Jurickson Profar and Tucupita Marcano lurking for second base time. Manny Machado could move to shortstop as well, which would certainly please fantasy managers eager for more multi-eligibility.
Based on names currently appearing on the most-added list, I would add Texas Rangers leadoff option Isiah Kiner-Falefa over Kim, as well as Minnesota Twins defender Andrelton Simmons. Kim is on the list, too, but I see more certainty with the others. Miami Marlins starter Miguel Rojas hits for average and already has a pair of stolen bases. I will need to see more of Kim to know what to expect, but I do not expect much power -- certainly not 21-home run power. The speed, however, should translate.
Still, Rojas is running. Kiner-Falefa runs and he leads off. Tampa Bay Rays overachiever Joey Wendle runs. Pittsburgh Pirates starter Kevin Newman (after a monster spring) has not hit, but he is not a .222 hitter, either. I do not see much shortstop power lurking in free agency, unless St. Louis Cardinals cleanup hitter Paul DeJong is out there. Among second basemen, I love Seattle Mariners slugger Ty France. Get him now! The San Francisco Giants must keep playing .300 hitter Donovan Solano. Miami's Jazz Chisholm Jr. can certainly run. Colorado Rockies speedster Garrett Hampson can run.
Elsewhere around the league
Anyway, things could be worse. Let us hope Tatis and his balky shoulder are fine in a few weeks -- a mere blip in a fantastic season. Here are other injured players on my mind today.
Well, the Trevor Rosenthal blog entry from Tuesday became outdated quite quickly! The Oakland Athletics announced their closer could have the dreaded thoracic outlet syndrome, a serious shoulder problem that would warrant surgery and a lengthy absence. Put simply, it's an injury which derails careers and pitchers like Matt Harvey, Phil Hughes, Luke Hochevar and perhaps Chris Archer end up never being the same. If Rosenthal is out for months, then yes, move on in fantasy. He will not be closing this season in that scenario. One day ago, however, we did not know this information. Go ahead and add Jake Diekman and J.B. Wendelken. The Athletics will win a game soon -- and lots of them, thereafter.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Cody Bellinger should avoid the injured list after a calf injury suffered on Monday night as this does not appear serious ... for now. Bellinger took a cleat to the calf on a play at first base. The Dodgers have so much depth that they could choose to sit him all week and not miss him. I think we all overrated Bellinger a bit and he'll end up being more like a .260 hitter with 30 home runs than an MVP, but this injury should not be a major thing.
I do not know how Josh Donaldson managed to play in 155 games for the 2019 Atlanta Braves. Really, I do not. He was on a one-year contract, so perhaps that was it. Donaldson missed half of 2017-2018, and half of the 2020 season for the Twins. Last week, he strained a hamstring running to second base in the first inning of the first game. I think he plays again in a few weeks, hits some home runs, draws some walks, and then gets hurt again. One does not need to be a soothsayer to predict this. I would move on. I also think those adding Giants starter Evan Longoria will soon be looking for help there, too.