PHOENIX -- The questions regarding Fernando Tatis Jr.'s status have followed him from San Diego to Arizona and won’t end until he returns to action in a big league game.

Will he play in the outfield, or will he return to shortstop when he is activated from the injured list? And will that return happen sometime during the current four-game series against the D-backs, or will it come next week?

Is there a scenario where Tatis will play in the infield and in the outfield in the same series?

• What Tatis to outfield might mean for Padres

The answers, like Tatis’ progress in the outfield, are developing. What’s certain is that the All-Star was still listed on the injured list Thursday, before San Diego's game with Arizona at Chase Field.

“He's doing well. He's progressing,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. “As far as [being] activated this series, I don't know yet. We’re not quite there. We still have some more things that we’ve got to do so I’m not going to put up a prediction or anything like that.”

Tatis, who has worked out in right field and shortstop this week, is currently in his third stint on the injured list this year, and he has already partially dislocated his left shoulder at least four times. Surgery would stabilize the shoulder and prevent future dislocations, but it would also end his season. The belief is that a shift to the outfield would minimize the chances of another shoulder subluxation. The position change is still being discussed.

“We don't quite know yet,” Tingler said. “So, nothing definite, I guess would be the correct answer.”

For now, the club is trying out different shoulder braces and support systems, the manager said. There are also a series of tests the young star must pass before he is activated.

“We have a list of things that we want to make sure we are good with,” Tingler said. “We do need to get some sliding in. At some point, we need those live at-bats, game rhythm and all of those things. The part of [Chase Field] being on turf has not factored into anything like that. It’s about making sure he’s strong, mobile, [get him] game reps and try to simulate as much as we can before he’s activated.”

The Padres hope that Tatis’ athleticism and instinct on the field will make up for his inexperience in the outfield if he does make the shift to a new position. Among the challenges he will face is eliminating false steps and learning to read hard-hit balls off the bat.

“I would say that the just the biggest challenge is just the newness to it,” Tingler said. “You go to different stadiums, there's different dimensions, whether it's the wall or today, we're going to play with a roof. There can certainly be sun balls, lines of communication out there. So, I think those will be some of the challenges, but I certainly think when he's ready, he's going to be prepared and I think it'll be great out there.”

Here’s something to consider: Tatis’ arm might actually be better suited for the outfield. His arm slot works best when he’s making longer throws.

“Sometimes in the infield, his ball will cut at times,” Tingler said. “And now that he's in the outfield, I don't know if it's just the full arm circle or just his arm stroke out there, his ball really carries well on the throws. In the small drill work we've done so far, he's done a lot of things and made it look fairly easy in the throws and keeping them straight with good carry and distance.”