Major League Baseball (MLB) San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr., who is about to return, seems to be concentrating on being an outfielder, not an infielder.
According to ESPN’s report on the 24th (Korean time), San Diego manager Bob Melvin said, “Considering his physical condition, I think Tatis Jr. would be better off playing right field than shortstop. He had surgery and hasn’t played in 15 months. “I’m going to play him only in right field so he can feel comfortable.”
San Diego’s two main infielders will participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Ha-sung Kim and Xander Bogatz. The two were selected for the Korean and Dutch national teams, respectively.
Ha-seong Kim and Bogatz are the starting pitchers for San Diego’s infield this season. Ha-seong Kim will play second base and Bogatz will play shortstop. However, as these two fell at once, a vacuum was created in the infield.토토사이트
Tatis Jr.’s return to the infield was also expected when he thought of the right person to fill the infield void that would occur in spring camp, but this does not seem to be the case.
Tatis Jr. was originally San Diego’s starting shortstop. However, he suffered frequent injuries while playing shortstop, and last season, he gave up the shortstop position to Ha-seong Kim as he was suspended from the game due to an injury and a drug use violation.
As the position duplication problem arose, San Diego decided to convert Tatis Jr. to an outfielder rather than an infielder starting this season. Tatis Jr. is gradually increasing his adaptability while training in the outfield in spring camp.
In the midst of this, with Kim Ha-sung and Bogatz missing, there was a prospect that Tatis Jr. might return to the infielder again during the demonstration game. However, San Diego has no plans to use Tatis Jr. as an infielder again. It was a decision considering his physical condition and quick adaptation as an outfielder.
Although he has not been able to play for a long time, expectations for Tatis Jr. are still high.
“Tatis Jr. is looking good,” Melvin said. “This is the first time I’ve watched him do batting drills and chase a ball with such passion in the outfield. The progress he’s made over his injury has been amazing.”