Tatis shows arm, inexperience in right field
PEORIA, Ariz. — Behind the scenes, Fernando Tatis Jr. has drawn rave critiques for his work in proper discipline this spring. Padres officers are desperate to see the completed product: Tatis — his rocket arm, his elite pace, his penchant for the spectacular — making use of that ability set as a cultured outfielder.
So far, his transition has been principally easy.
“Besides today,” Tatis stated with fun, shortly after he exited the Padres’ Cactus League sport towards the Mariners on Thursday afternoon.
Indeed, Tatis’ spring debut in proper discipline featured an unwelcome hiccup. After he made a simple catch on a first-inning can of corn, his second alternative proved a bit trickier.
Tatis ranged to his proper whereas taking a circuitous route on a fly ball hit by Teoscar Hernández. Tatis could not recuperate in time, and the ball caromed off his glove.
“I felt good on it,” Tatis stated. “But at the end, I couldn’t adjust my glove at the last second.”
Ultimately, that is what these video games are for. Tatis is not eligible to return from his PED suspension till April 20. He has one other month and a half to work out the kinks in proper discipline.
In 2021, when Tatis performed some outfield following his return from a number of shoulder accidents, he wasn’t afforded the luxurious of that buildup.
“There’s going to be plays like that for him,” supervisor Bob Melvin stated. “I told him: There are going to be times … you’re going to get frustrated. And then the next day, you’re going to probably make two plays that nobody else can make. Those are the types of things he’s going to learn the more he’s going to be out there.”
In equity to Tatis, he got here inches from throwing Hernández out at second base. Tatis’ rocket arm is maybe the software the Padres are most desperate to see in motion in proper discipline. It was a key issue within the crew’s resolution to maneuver Juan Soto from proper discipline to left, clearing the way in which for Tatis in proper.
It’s nonetheless doable Tatis will get work in middle discipline later this spring. But up to now, the Padres have carried out their finest to ease the transition by maintaining Tatis’ focus slim — one place at a time.
“For right now, his tools play really well in right field,” Melvin stated. “Especially his throwing arm — that’s the outfield position that seems like it gets the most chances, guys going first to third or second to home. I know he’s eager about showing his arm off.”
“I’m definitely looking forward to that,” Tatis said. “I’ve been placing the work in on it, and I undoubtedly have the arm to do it. It’s going to be extra concerning the accuracy.”
At the plate, Tatis’ afternoon went largely the way in which it did Tuesday, when he made his debut at designated hitter. He walked and scored in his first at-bat. Then he completed 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Of course, the Padres’ 5-4 loss Thursday marked the primary time that Tatis, Soto and Manny Machado shared a lineup — a prospect relished by Melvin.
“Him in there with Manny and Juan — there are certain things that get you excited about during the course of Spring Training,” Melvin stated.
After Tatis’ leadoff stroll, he went first to 3rd with ease on Soto’s single, then scored later within the body.
“It’s definitely fun,” Tatis stated of hitting forward of Soto and Machado. “You know when you get on base, you’re for sure moving.”
The Padres, having eased Tatis into motion this spring, nonetheless have not performed a sport with their whole quartet of superstars. That will not be taking place any time quickly, both. Xander Bogaerts departed for the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, and each Machado and Soto will do the identical on Monday.
When all 4 can be found, it is nonetheless unclear how the Padres plan to line up Tatis, Soto, Machado and Bogaerts of their batting order. That’s a subject that has drawn loads of dialogue this spring.
One possibility would see Thursday’s order on the prime, with Bogaerts hitting fourth. Tatis has scored within the first inning in each video games he is performed this spring. But it’s too early to make any declarations, Tatis says.
“That’s why they have Bob,” he stated, laughing once more. “But I feel like there’s no wrong answers.”
