Baseball is returning as the lockout is effectively canceled; however, superstar San Diego Padres player Fernando Tatis Jr. surprised his team with a reported broken wrist injury as spring training returns.
It is the third time in his four MLB seasons that he will miss time due to injury. The news is significant as Tatis signed a $340 million, 14-year extension with the team before the 2021 season.
Last December, Tatis Jr. was reportedly involved in a motorcycle crash in his native San Pedro de Macoris province in the Dominican Republic, an alleged incident both he and his father downplayed considerably.
Fernando Tatis Jr. fractured his wrist during the offseason, A.J. Preller said. He’s headed for a surgery that could come with a recovery time of up to three months.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) March 14, 2022
To Motorcycle Or Not To Motorcycle
“He is fine, in perfect condition,″ said former major league infielder Fernando Tatis, Sr. to ESPN. “They treated him here; it’s not a big deal, just a fall; he scraped his knee and hands a little.″
At that time, Tatis’ father denied the news that his son was involved in a motorcycle accident.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is undergoing wrist surgery this morning.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) March 16, 2022
The Padres Speak
However, Padres chairman Peter Seidler is throwing his full support behind the star player primarily due to the amount they have invested in his career. Sunday’s X-rays revealed that he will have to miss up to three months of playing time. That’s not terrible news ,but it is disheartening for a young team with World Series aspirations.
“Most importantly, he’s committed to that,” Seidler said to MLB.com, “and I’m committed to supporting him in every way.”
Seidler spoke at Tuesday’s annual spring media conference, throwing his full support behind his young star. The Padres chairman believes the 23-year-old’s growth was imminent and would adapt accordingly.
Need Fernando Tatis Jr. to show up like this for his first game back pic.twitter.com/Ha6QW3HyBI
— Ben Porter (@Ben13Porter) March 14, 2022
Erasing Past Performances
The Padres are trying to gear up for an overhaul after a lackluster ending to the 2021 season. The front office executed certain moves like revamping the coaching staff, but Tatis Jr. was a major piece of a winning team strategy.
“If you’re going to fall off a cliff like we did last year, you may as well make it dramatic,” Seidler continued. “And we did. I think that was a once-in-a-century what I’ll call learning experience for all of us. It’s a fresh year. We’ve got a very, very good team, and we expect to be a force in the chase for the World Series.”
Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. fractured his wrist during the offseason and needs surgery that will sideline him up to three months, according to GM A.J. Preller. pic.twitter.com/rGxmSWPJlS
— ESPN (@espn) March 14, 2022
Injury Prone
Last year Tatis Jr. had a shoulder injury that limited his season to 130 games. Although he avoided surgery, he missed additional playing time placed in health and safety protocols last May.
In late 2020, he suffered a back injury and went from being day-to-day to firm on the 60-day injured list. Also, in early 2019 a hamstring injury put him on the 10-Day injured list.
According to reports, Tatis Jr. received a $10 million signing bonus with a 2022 base salary of $5 million. His salary increases annually, leading towards an eventual average salary of over $24 million.
The Padres are not expected to pursue voiding Fernando Tatís Jr.’s contract, even though an injury sustained while operating a motorcycle could provide the basis for doing so. One major reason: The team values its long-term relationship with a superstar player. (1/5) @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 15, 2022
The Ghost Of Jim Lonborg
However, there are still questions surrounding if Tatis Jr. was in a motorcycle accident because it brings up the Jim Lonborg Clause.
In 1967, Boston Red Sox pitcher Jim Lonborg had a breakout season posting a 22-9 record and a 3.16 earned run average in 273.1 innings. He received an All-Star nod, Cy Young, and the American League MVP Award.
However, after a skiing trip in Lake Tahoe, Lonborg wiped out, tearing ligaments in his left knee and ultimately missed substantial time during the 1968 season. It led the owners to create the hazardous activities clause.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
July 2018: season-ending surgery (thumb)
August 2019: season-ending back injury
April 2021: left shoulder subluxation
July 2021: 2nd left shoulder subluxation (misses 32 games that season)
March 2022: fractured wrist (expected to miss a few months) pic.twitter.com/CkpRe2q5fU
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) March 14, 2022
Bikes And Pros: Ron Gant
Fortunately for Tatis Jr., his “accident” didn’t cause permanent damage to his career. Former Atlanta Braves superstar Ron Gant wasn’t that lucky.
Shortly after signing one of the richest contracts in Braves history in 1994, Gant broke his right leg in an ATV accident.
Gant’s right leg was mangled and a rod had to be put in to repair the compound fracture. It effectively ended his career.
“I was on dirt bike doing jumps and lost control and went off the course and my leg just wrapped around a tree,” Gant recalls. “Right when it happened, I knew I had messed my leg up and possibly would never play again. A million things ran through my mind as I lay in that hospital. The Braves made the right decision letting me go. They were able to get a lot of the money back because of the clause in the contract. It all worked out, but the thing I regretted was I wanted to be a Brave my entire career.”
Almost once a year from 1994-2006, high level athletes have been involved in near fatal motorcycle accidents, from former Pittsburgh Steeler QB Ben Rothleisberger to former Chicago Bulls guard Jason Williams.
The San Diego Padres are working to get past bad seasons. Now that Tatis Jr. is out for a few months, the organization has to decide if his decision-making and injury-prone tendencies will meet their goals. Good thing is he has over a decade to prove it. A lot of maturing undoubtedly will occur during that period.
