Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. tests positive for COVID-19

Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19 and been placed on the injured list, manager Jayce Tingler announced to media members, including The Athletic’s Dennis Lin, on Tuesday. Tatis is asymptomatic for now, and there’s no word yet on whether he had been vaccinated. The Padres placed utility players Jurickson Profar and Jorge Mateo into contact tracing as well.

While the 22-year-old Tatis is arguably the face of baseball these days, he’s had somewhat of a rough start to the 2021 season. He missed 10 days in April with left shoulder inflammation, and coming into Tuesday he led the majors with 11 errors. While he’s flashed impressive power, tying for fourth in the majors with nine homers, he’s struggled to make contact and get on base, hitting .240 with a .315 OBP in 108 plate appearances.

With Tatis, Profar, and Mateo out, offseason addition Ha-seong Kim will likely get an extended opportunity at shortstop.