The San Diego Padres already were down 4-0 when rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. stepped into the batter’s box to lead off the Padres’ first inning on Thursday, and the crowd at Petco Park gave him a standing ovation.
The most dynamic rookie the Padres have had in a long time was back. The Padres activated him earlier in the afternoon after Tatis missed 34 games on the injured list with a left hamstring strain.
And the Padres hope he’s done on the injured list for the season, which continues Friday in the second game of a four-game series with the Washington Nationals. The Padres’ rookie left-hander Nick Margevicius (2-6, 5.40 ERA) will square off against Nationals right-hander Erick Fedde (1-0, 2.55 ERA).
Before Tatis was injured while stretching for a high throw on April 28, the Padres were 16-11. From the time Tatis was hurt through the start of Thursday’s game, the Padres went 15-20.
“We missed him,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “Even though he’s only 20 years old, he was our catalyst at the top of the order. His teammates loved his attitude and the way he played the game. He gave us a bounce.”
Well, the bounce was back in the San Diego lineup Thursday night with Tatis in the leadoff slot.
He drew a walk in his first plate appearance. He drew a walk in his second plate appearance. And his single in the fifth helped ignite a three-run game winning rally. He moved to second on a wild pitch. Then with the bases loaded, he hustled into third to force a misplay that resulted in Tatis scoring the tying run.
The Padres won.
“We could feel the energy he brought,” Green said.
And the productivity. Tatis is hitting .304 with a .374 on-base percentage and a .549 slugging percentage for a .923 OPS.
When Tatis was rehabbing, Padres leadoff batters hit .236 with a .302 on-base percentage and a .369 slugging percentage for a .671 OPS. And with Manny Machado moving from third base to shortstop to keep the defense solid with Tatis gone, the third base replacements had a .208/.262/.342/.604 slash line.
“Tatis is an impressive young player,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez, who got his second look at the Padres’ young shortstop. The Padres were playing the Nationals in Washington, D.C., on April 28 when Tatis suffered his hamstring injury. Tatis was 4-for-13 with a walk in the three games in Washington.
Tatis and the Padres on Friday will face Margevicius, who has struggled in his past three starts around a 12-day “rest” option to Double-A Amarillo.
Over the first three starts of his Major League career, Margevicius had a 1.69 ERA and a 0.625 WHIP while allowing nine hits and a walk with 12 strikeouts in 16 innings. However, over his past three starts, Margevicius has given up 15 earned runs on 22 hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over 12 innings for an 11.25 ERA and a 2.083 WHIP.
Margevicius will be facing the Nationals for the first time Friday. Fedde will be making his second appearance against the Padres this season.
On April 28, in the game when Tatis was injured, Fedde held the Padres scoreless over four innings, giving up two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. He is 0-1 lifetime against the Padres, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings.
Fedde will be making his fourth start this season in his ninth appearance. It will be his 18th career start.