Watch: Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits first home run of spring training
Although the San Diego Padres moved on from Juan Soto this offseason, they can still count on one of the best players in the game in outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.
Against the Seattle Mariners, the 25-year-old hit a two-run moonshot in the third inning, giving the Padres a 3-2 lead. It was his first home run in spring training.
Last season, the Padres moved the former All-Star to the outfield after they signed shortstop Xander Boagerts. He thrived in the new role, winning a Gold Glove. However, he struggled at the plate with career lows in batting average (.257), OPS (.770) and slugging percentage (.449) in 141 games.
The Padres would miss the postseason and dealt Soto to the New York Yankees for seven players. According to FanDuel, they have the second-worst National League West odds (+1600). Still, Tatis Jr. thinks the team is a sleeper.
"I still believe that we are a good baseball team," he recently told MLB.com. "We need to go take it on a daily basis and take care of business. I definitely believe that we have the guys that it takes to win ballgames."
If Tatis Jr. gets back in the groove in 2024, the team could turn things around, exceeding expectations.
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