Fernando Tatis Sr.

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Lore & Background

Tatís entered the minors with the White Sox in 2015 but was traded to the Padres before playing a professional game, moving alongside Erik Johnson for James Shields. He spent time in the Arizona League and Tri-City Dust Devils in 2016 before dominating at Fort Wayne and San Antonio in 2017 with 22 home runs and 32 stolen bases. His ascent continued into 2018 until a broken thumb ended his season. By 2019, he was ranked among the top three prospects in baseball. His debut year saw him hit .317 with 22 home runs over 84 games before a back injury cut his season short. In 2020, he led the NL in power-speed number and recorded the highest average exit velocity (95.9 MPH) among all major league hitters. A historic moment occurred on April 23, 2021, when he hit two home runs off Clayton Kershaw exactly 22 years after his father achieved a similar feat at the same venue.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Tatís's career includes both meteoric rises and significant setbacks. In July 2021, he made headlines for an unusually high catch resembling a video game double jump and became the fourth Padres player to hit 30 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season by age 22. However, his momentum stalled when he suffered shoulder subluxations and tested positive for COVID-19. The following year brought suspension; on August 12, 2022, he was suspended for 80 games for testing positive for Clostebol, leading Adidas to drop him as a sponsor. After missing the start of the 2023 season, he returned with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas, hitting three home runs in one game. Upon joining the big league club, the signing of Xander Bogaerts moved him to right field, where he led NL defenders with 27 defensive runs saved and won a Platinum Glove Award.

Reader's Guide

Fans can track Tatís's evolution from his 2019 shortstop debut to his 2023 move to right field. Key statistical milestones include his .590 slugging percentage in his rookie year, leading the league with 42 home runs in 2021, and winning Platinum Gloves in both 2023 and 2025. His contract history is notable for a 14-year, $340 million extension signed before the 2021 season, which was the third-richest in MLB history at the time. He has been selected as an All-Star in 2021, 2024, and 2025. Defensively, he transitioned successfully after training with first base coach Wayne Kirby during a 2021 injury stint. His 2024 season was interrupted by a femoral stress reaction that required placement on the 60-day injured list before his activation on September 2.

Did You Know?

• Tatís was traded to the Padres on June 4, 2016, before he had played a single professional game.
• On April 23, 2021, Tatís hit two home runs off Clayton Kershaw at the exact venue where his father hit two grand slams in one inning exactly 22 years prior.
• In 2020, Tatís had the highest average exit velocity (95.9 MPH) of all major league hitters.
• During a four-game streak in August 2020, Tatís hit four grand slams while playing at every base position over the course of those games.
• Tatís won the Platinum Glove Award in both 2023 and 2025 after being moved to right field.