Rising from the ‘Grind’: Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Quest for Greatness….
“It was just a grind,” Tatis said Wednesday. “I feel like I never found my swing last year during the entire season. I was searching, searching, searching. And then when I opened my eyes, it was the end of the season.”
Now here are Tatis’ numbers from that “grind” of a 2023 season: 25 home runs, a .770 OPS and a 113 wRC+, indicating he was 13 percent better than league average.
Tatis received down-ballot MVP votes last November. Yet he talks about his 2023 season ruefully, as though there’s so much more for him to accomplish.
Because there is.
By the standards of an average big league hitter, Tatis’ 2023 season was pretty darn good. By Tatis’ own standards, it wasn’t good enough.
To be fair, Tatis was always facing an uphill battle in 2023. He’d missed the entire ‘22 season due to injuries and a PED suspension. In the 18 months between games played for the Padres, he underwent three surgeries — two on his wrist and one on his shoulder.
“Last year, it was more getting back on track, see how I was going to bounce back after all those surgeries,” Tatis said. “… It was a battle. But at the end of the day, I feel like we took control of everything that we can. Now this year is totally different in preparation and what I’m aiming for.”
Tatis spent the winter playing in his native Dominican Republic for the Estrellas Orientales, the team managed by his father. He cherished his time there for several reasons, firstly because of what playing at home means to him.
“It’s a different energy when you’re playing baseball in your own country with your fellas, your Dominican fellas, and also people from all around the world,” Tatis said. “When you’re playing at home, playing in front of the people that you love, that saw you coming up, saw you growing, it’s a little different energy. It was definitely fun.”
Fun aside, Tatis said winter ball was also pivotal in his prep for the 2024 season. His swing never felt quite right last summer. He spent the winter honing it.
That’s largely why the Padres were on board with Tatis’ desire to play extra games during the offseason. He had lost time to make up for.
“I think he was happy with aspects of his season, in talking to him,” manager Mike Shildt said last month. “I also feel like, in talking to him, he wanted to work on a few things. [Winter ball] provided an opportunity.”
In mid-December, Shildt visited Tatis in the Dominican Republic and watched a couple of his games. They’d become close the previous spring when Shildt worked extensively with Tatis on his transition to right field. Among the many topics they discussed while Shildt visited was Tatis’ role in the outfield.
His first season as a right fielder was a revelation. Tatis led the Majors with 29 defensive runs saved and took home the Platinum Glove Award as the best defender in the National League.
“[General manager] A.J. [Preller] gave me that challenge — if I could win [the] Gold [Glove],” Tatis said. “I brought platinum to the table.”
On Wednesday, Tatis revealed that Shildt and Preller essentially asked whether he’d prefer a move to center field. The Padres traded Trent Grisham to the Yankees in December and still haven’t found an obvious replacement in center.
A year ago, Tatis said, his answer would’ve been different. Now? He’s happy where he is.
“I feel like right field in Petco Park is more important than center field,” Tatis said, alluding to the spacious dimensions of his home ballpark. “I feel like I can do a way better job in our right field in Petco than me playing center field. I feel like right field is the spot for me right now.”
Speaking of right fielders, Tatis has previously spoken about the trajectory of Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. as a blueprint for himself. Injured in 2021, Acuña regained his footing in ‘22, then won MVP in 2023. It’s a path that Tatis would obviously like to follow.
Easier said than done. Until Tatis reverts to his pre-injury/suspension form, some will wonder whether he’ll ever reach those heights again. To those who would question whether he’s back?
“I really had a really good offseason,” Tatis said. “My confidence is through the roof. I just want them to sit down and see what I’m going to do this year.”
