San Diego Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. left Tuesday’s spring training game with left shoulder discomfort after making a throw across the diamond. He walked off the field with the trainer, and the team later reported the injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
Tatis, who just signed a 14-year contract extension last month, was re-evaluated on Wednesday, and manager Jayce Tingler didn’t seem overly concerned. He told reporters that Tatis has played through shoulder soreness in the past and would probably play the next day if this was the regular season.
Tatis missed five games already in spring with an illness but has still posted a 1.092 OPS in 11 games. Last year, he hit .277 in 59 games with 17 home runs and 45 RBI. He is +850 to win the National League MVP, and the Padres are +800 to win the World Series in 2021.
Blue Jays Hurting
The Toronto Blue Jays got bad news on three fronts Tuesday, with the worst of those coming to closer Kirby Yates. A free-agent signee from San Diego, Yates appears headed for Tommy John surgery that will cost him the entire 2021 season.
The former All-Star closer had bone chips removed from his elbow last year after six appearances and was originally diagnosed with a forearm strain over the weekend.
Elsewhere, the Blue Jays’ big position player signee, George Springer, was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Toronto is hoping its center fielder will be ready for Opening Day, but he will definitely miss the next few days of spring training.
Finally, the Blue Jays are also dealing with an injury to starting pitcher Robbie Ray, who is in position to win a rotation spot. Ray has a bruised left elbow that he suffered away from the ballpark.
Ray was carrying his child down the stairs and fell, landing on his pitching elbow. He will miss at least one spring training start, and his status for the regular season will be evaluated after a bullpen session.
The Blue Jays are +350 to win the American League East, behind the New York Yankees (-200) but with the same odds as the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays. They are +875 to win the pennant and +2200 to win the World Series.
Davis Leaves Injured
Slugger Khris Davis was traded by the Oakland A’s to AL West rival Texas Rangers in the offseason, but his Opening Day status is in doubt after a quad strain. Davis left Tuesday’s game with an injured left quad and will be evaluated on Wednesday.
The injury happened while he was attempting to beat out a bunt single. Davis is batting .194 with two homers in 12 games after batting a career-low .200 last year.
Rockies Hurler Down
Colorado Rockies left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland left Tuesday’s start in the third inning with a shoulder strain. He posted a 2.00 ERA in three outings and hadn’t allowed an earned run before Tuesday. He injured his shoulder while throwing a pitch and immediately left the game.
Freeland was 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 13 games last season. In 2019, he was 3-11 with a 6.73 ERA in 22 starts after winning a career-high 17 games in 2018.
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