2022 NL MVP odds: Co-favorite Fernando Tatis Jr. of Padres to miss 3 months with fractured wrist

Maybe the most electric player in the National League if not all of baseball is young San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. The only knock on him so far has been an inability to stay healthy – if he had last season, he probably would have won the NL MVP Award. Tatis is currently a +400 co-favorite at Caesars Sportsbook with Washington outfielder Juan Soto to win the 2022 NL MVP, but Padres GM AJ Preller said today that Tatis fractured his wrist this offseason and will need surgery with about three months recovery time.

Why are we only hearing about this now? Because players and teams were not allowed to communicate during the lockout, so clubs were not alerted to any injuries suffered during the offseason until the lockout ended. Tatis also was the +1100 favorite to lead the majors in homers. Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will become the new favorite there. 

The 23-year-old Tatis Jr. played in 130 games last year and still managed to lead the National League in homers with 42, was second in slugging percentage (.611), third in OPS (.975) and stolen bases (25), tied for third extra-base hits (73) and 7th in runs scored (99). Tatis was the 11th player in MLB history to have a 30 double/40 homer/25 SB season and the youngest player to ever do so. He finished three RBIs shy of 100 and third in the NL MVP balloting behind Soto of the Nationals and winner Bryce Harper of the Phillies. The only Padres player to win NL MVP was Ken Caminiti in 1996.

Needless to say, wrist injuries are never a good thing but especially for a power hitter. Tatis Jr.'s average exit velocity of 93.9 mph led the NL last year. He originally hurt his shoulder in 2021 spring training and made his first stint on the injured list from April 6-16 with left shoulder inflammation. He tested positive for COVID-19 on May 11 with a stint on the COVID-19 injured list, and he re-aggravated his shoulder injury on June 19, diving for a ball. He was placed again on the IL with left shoulder inflammation on July 31 and was reinstated on Aug. 15.

San Diego finished a disappointing 79-83 in 2021, missing the playoffs. The team fired manager Jayce Tingler and replaced him with former A's manager Bob Melvin. The Friars had a win total of Over/Under 91.5 for 2022  but that could change with this news. Their first spring training game is Friday and their season opener April 7 at Arizona. Ha-Seong Kim and Jake Cronenworth could split time at shortstop in Tatis' place. 

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