Fernando Tatis Jr. Is Already Flashing His Platinum Leather For The San Diego Padres Achi-News

SAN DIEGO: Fernando Tatis Jr. made a spectacular run, leaping to right field with a runner on second base, throwing the ball back in, hitting the platinum piece on his glove and flashing his golden smile.

El Niño has struck back for the San Diego Padres.

After playing his first three seasons with flair and swagger, his career was marred by injuries and an 80-game PED suspension that cost him all of the 2022 season and the first 20 games of 2023. But he was so impressive moving from shortstop to right field last year that he won the Gold Glove Award and the NL Platinum Glove Award, the latter voted by fans to honor the league’s best defensive player.

Last week in Seoul, where the Padres and Dodgers played a two-game series, Tatis was in the opening day lineup for the first time since 2021. He is sure to get a rousing reception on Thursday when the Padres play their game home opener against the San Francisco Giants and manager Bob Melvin, who captained San Diego the past two years.

The high-priced Padres dropped last year, but Tatis shined after he finished serving the final 20 games of the 80-game PED suspension he was hit with in August 2022. He was an All-Star shortstop in 2021 but was moved to right field when he returned, apparently to keep him healthy. He injured his left shoulder twice during the 2021 season and then broke his left wrist in a motorcycle accident that December while at home in the Dominican Republic. Both injuries eventually required surgery.

“I was open to it and really looking forward to it,” Tatis said of the move to right field. “I worked my (back) off and it totally paid off. I was very happy with the result, although I know I can always do a little better. You can always get a little better on the baseball field, so I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

As impressive as his catch of Jorge Polanco’s fly ball was Monday night in an exhibition game at home against the Seattle Mariners, he made a catch in the Padres’ home finale on Sept. 24 that was so stunning it could have sealed the Gold. Glove and Platinum Glove Awards.

Using a perfectly timed leap, Tatis reached his glove high above the wall to rob Michael Siani, a pinch hitter from St. Louis. Louis Cardinals, from a two-run homer. His left shoulder was level with the wall when he brought the ball back in. After landing and regaining his balance, his dreadlocks flying, Tatis threw to first to try to double off Masyn Winn.

“I would say that was probably the final touch for him, but I feel like, on a daily basis, going out there and being consistent in the right field was the main building block for that,” Tatis said. .

New manager Mike Shildt was in the organization the last two years before being promoted to replace Melvin, so he saw Tatis’ transition up close.

“He gets 100% of the credit. He did 100% of the work,” said Shildt. “He gets the credit for his willingness and mindset to do it. It is not easy. Obviously, 2022 failed as a whole. I remember looking at a list of short positions after ’21, which quite rightly put him in the Top 10, and then you ask him to move to another job, which he does done with a tremendous attitude. And then it’s just a matter of him embracing all the things that come with learning a new job.”

Tatis grew up in the game at the feet of his father, who played 11 seasons in the big leagues. His nickname, “El Niño,” means “little boy” in Spanish. It is also the name of a weather pattern that brings rain.

He hit .257 in 141 games last year, with 25 homers and 78 RBI.

“He’s going to have a great season this year,” said teammate Jurickson Profar. “He’s a very good baseball player. He can do anything. I think he can pitch, too.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)