Connect with us

Published

on

SAN DIEGO — San Diego Padres star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. took batting practice on the field Friday and said he expects to return in September from a stress reaction in his right thigh bone that has sidelined him for two months.

“It felt really good just being outside with the boys, ramping up. Every day a step closer,” Tatis said before the Padres played the New York Mets in the second game of a four-game series between teams in playoff contention.

Tatis hasn’t played since June 21. He was placed on the injured list on June 24, retroactive to June 22.

Manager Mike Shildt said on Thursday that there was a “looser timeline” for Tatis’ return.

“I really don’t have specific dates,” Tatis said. “I feel that’s more a conversation between the training staff, the manager and myself and A.J. [Preller, the general manager]. But I’m definitely playing baseball the next month. That’s what it looks like.”

On the day he was placed on the IL, Tatis said he had been dealing with the injury for essentially the whole season. It was first described as a quadriceps injury, but the team discovered the stress reaction after imaging.

Tatis won the NL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards last year in his first season in right field.

He was an All-Star at shortstop in 2021 before missing the 2022 season due to injury and a PED suspension.

Tatis was hitting .279 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs when he went on the IL.

“I feel way better,” Tatis said Friday. “Every day we ramp up, I get more of my legs under myself.”

He has been hitting in the indoor cage and said his next step will be working on defense.

He sprinted at 70% on Thursday.

“Honestly I feel I can play baseball with that, but the goal is to get as best as possible before I’m out there on the field,” he said.

The Padres are 22-8 since the All-Star break. They came into Friday night’s game holding the NL’s second wild-card spot, a half-game behind Arizona.

“It’s been amazing. I said it on the day everybody knew I was going on the IL that it’s a great team,” Tatis said. “Not a single player can carry any team. It’s a really good team. I’m happy for what we have accomplished together.

“The boys picking up every single guy; it’s not one guy, it’s everybody — the entire lineup, the entire rotation. The bullpen is lights out. Those boys have been outstanding,” he added. “I’m really happy with my team. It’s a great group of guys we have over here.”

Continue Reading

Sports

QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

Published

on

By

QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who lost his starting job earlier this week, will not be returning to the team, he announced Thursday night.

Castellanos, who started 12 games last season and retained the top job under new coach Bill O’Brien, wrote on X that “unfortunately, all good things come to an end, even though it’s sooner than I would like.” He did not mention the transfer portal in his departing message and has not officially entered it. The junior from Waycross, Georgia, started his career at UCF and appeared in five games in 2022.

O’Brien said Tuesday that Grayson James, who replaced Castellanos in last week’s win against Syracuse, will start Saturday when Boston College visits No. 14 SMU. Castellanos “wasn’t real thrilled” with the decision, O’Brien said, adding that the quarterback decided to step away from the team for several days.

Castellanos had 2,248 passing yards and 1,113 rushing yards last season under coach Jeff Hafley, passing for 15 touchdowns and adding 13 on the ground. He had 18 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this season, but his accuracy dipped in recent weeks, and he completed only 2 of 7 passes against Syracuse before being replaced.

In his statement, Castellanos thanked both coaching staffs he played for at Boston College and wrote that he had “some of the best experiences of my life in the Eagles Nest and I will truly cherish these memories forever.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Gators’ Lagway ‘ready to play,’ will start vs. LSU

Published

on

By

Gators' Lagway 'ready to play,' will start vs. LSU

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is “ready to play,” coach Billy Napier said Thursday on his weekly radio show.

Napier removed Lagway from the team’s injury report and penciled him in to start against No. 21 LSU in the Swamp on Saturday.

Lagway practiced every day this week while progressing from a strained left hamstring. The highly touted freshman was carted off the field against Georgia on Nov. 2. Tests revealed a “less significant” injury than initially feared, and now he’s back in time to face the Tigers.

The Gators (4-5, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) need him. They have to win two of their final three regular-season games to become bowl eligible.

LSU (6-3, 3-2) has struggled mightily against dual-threat QBs, including Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns last week.

Lagway returns after walk-on and Yale transfer Aidan Warner started in his place against Texas. Warner threw two interceptions and was 12-of-25 passing for 132 yards in a 49-17 loss.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

Published

on

By

Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

No. 12 Georgia will be without leading rusher Trevor Etienne for Saturday’s showdown against No. 7 Tennessee.

Etienne was downgraded from questionable to out on Thursday night’s SEC availability report.

Etienne left Georgia’s win over Florida with an upper-body injury on Nov. 2 and did not return. He played limited snaps in last week’s 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, carrying the ball six times for 24 yards.

Etienne leads the Bulldogs with 477 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season.

The loss is another blow to Georgia’s banged-up backfield. Cash Jones is also listed as questionable while Branson Robinson remains out after missing the past three games with a knee injury.

That leaves true freshman Nate Frazier as the only healthy Bulldogs running back who has played meaningful snaps this year. Frazier is second on the team with 333 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Continue Reading

Trending