Soto's oblique injury 'minimal,' MRI shows

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres, it appears, can breathe a sigh of relief about star left fielder Juan Soto’s ailing left oblique.

Soto underwent an MRI on Tuesday after he sustained a mild strain of that oblique while taking a swing during a backfield "B" game at the Peoria Sports Complex on Sunday.

That oblique strain is “minimal,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said, noting that he expects Soto to resume swinging at some point in the next few days.

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“No significant oblique inflammation,” Melvin said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and maybe have a bat in his hand in the next couple days.”

Melvin added that he’s “optimistic” Soto would be available by Opening Day and could potentially log a few more Cactus League at-bats before the team breaks camp next week.

The injury to Soto's left side runs counter to the conventional oblique injury in baseball. For hitters, oblique injuries typically occur on the side that faces the pitcher, the side that rotates while swinging.

Soto first felt the injury to his left side while taking a swing, Melvin said, then promptly removed himself from the game.

The Padres, needless to say, can ill afford to be without Soto, one of the game's best hitters. They're already without Fernando Tatis Jr. for the first 20 games of the season while he serves the remainder of his PED suspension.

On top of that, Soto has been red-hot all spring, whether in the Cactus League or playing for the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic. Between the two, he is 14-for-29 with three homers.

"Definitely, I feel great," Soto said prior to the injury. "I feel like my timing is right on point."

If Soto were to miss any time, the current group of outfielders vying for playing time in right field in Tatis’ absence -- a group that includes Adam Engel, José Azocar, David Dahl and Brandon Dixon -- would presumably be fighting for two places instead of one.