San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.'s rookie campaign come to an unceremonious end when he hit the injured list with a lower-back stress reaction earlier this month.
It was the second time this season, and third time in 14 months, that the wunderkind has been sidelined with a substantial and unique injury. Despite that, the 20-year-old doesn't plan to change his approach.
"No, absolutely not," Tatis said on Friday, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. "If it's part of it, it's part of it. But I'm not going to change my game at all."
When healthy, Tatis has showcased why he was one of baseball's most highly touted prospects. He hit .317/.379/.590 with 22 home runs and 16 stolen bases over 84 games this season.
Before aggravating a lingering back issue during a swing, it looked like he could give New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso a challenge for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
For now, Tatis isn't dwelling on the setbacks, and he's instead setting his sights on the 2020 season and beyond.
"(I'll) come back next year, or whenever I get back, and I'll be even stronger," he added.
