If two games against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Southwest University Park are any indication, San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis, Jr. is ready to return to Major League Baseball.
On Thursday and Saturday during his rehab assignment with the El Paso Chihuahuas, Tatis went a combined 9-for-11 with five home runs and 11 RBI. At one point, he had a hit in eight straight at-bats.
Tatis Jr. played on a road trip to Sacramento, where he hit one homer with the team, and then a six-game home stand against Albuquerque much to the satisfaction of El Paso fans. The six-game series began last Tuesday and wrapped up Sunday.
Tatis Jr., who was a National League All-Star in 2021 and the first shortstop in MLB history to win multiple Silver Slugger Awards before the age of 23, hit three home runs on Thursday and two more on Saturday.