Fernando Tatis Jr. looks strong in first Double-A rehab start

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. looked good in his first rehabilitation start at Double-A Amarillo on Monday. Could he return soon?

Fernando Tatis Jr. was solid in his rehab debut Monday, so could the San Diego Padres‘ top young talent rejoin the major league team sooner rather than later?

Tatis stepped into his usual leadoff spot and played shortstop for the Padres’ Double-A affiliate Amarillo Sod Poodles—so not a far cry from what he’d done for San Diego before straining his left hamstring on April 28.

According to MLB.com, he was able to play the entire game and went 1-3 with two walks. That included legging out a single after a soft hit in front of home plate, and he also stole a base, so he appears to be getting his speed back.

Does this mean San Diego’s starting shortstop could come back to the Padres before the end of June? Andy Green was asked about Tatis’ status yesterday and said that as long as the 20-year-old was healthy, the team would be “looking to get him back here relatively quickly.”

“How quickly he gets back here depends on how he feels, first physically and then timing-wise as a hitter,” Green added to MLB.com. “As soon as those two things click, he’ll be back with us in the lineup.”

Tatis was billed as Major League Baseball’s No. 2 prospect before the 2019 season, and has been one of the bright spots in the San Diego Padres’ 2019 lineup. Ironically, his encouraging start in the minors came on the same day that the Friars picked shortstop CJ Abrams in the MLB Draft.

For the latest San Diego Padres injury and rehab updates, follow the News category at Friars on Base.