Watch: Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. steals home without a throw
The underachieving San Diego Padres have often been criticized for their lack of fire this season. However, on Wednesday night, shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. provided plenty with an electric steal of home against the Baltimore Orioles.
With the Padres nursing a 4-2 lead in the seventh and two outs, Tatis caught Orioles reliever Cionel Perez napping on the mound. The left-hander focused on outfielder Juan Soto at the dish, and Tatis took advantage, bursting to the plate right before the pitcher's windup.
And, perhaps most impressive of all, Tatis swiped home without a throw, as by the time Perez realized what was happening, the Padres' star had already crossed the plate.
Following the Padres' 5-2 win over the O's, Bob Melvin provided a hilarious comparison when talking with reporters about Tatis' exploits on the base paths.
"I kid with him that he's a witch and he rides his broom around the bases," Melvin said via Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
According to Francys Romero of MLB.com, Tatis is only the third Padre to steal home, joining fellow Dominican Republic natives Manuel Margot (2019) and Quilvio Veras (1999).
After missing all of 2022 with an injury and a suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy, Tatis' numbers in 2023 have taken a hit.
Tatis tallied career highs in home runs (42) and RBI (97) in 2021, earning his first All-Star selection. However, in 2023, Tatis hasn't looked quite like himself, slashing .270/.325/.473 with 19 home runs and 63 RBI through 101 games.
Perhaps Wednesday night's theatrics will help wake him and the Padres up. Despite being five games under .500 (58-63), the Padres still have life in the National League wild card race.
While the Padres remain out of the NL West race, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers (72-46) by 15.5 games, San Diego is four and a half games back of the Chicago Cubs (62-58) for the final playoff spot in the NL.
If the Padres are to grab one of the three wild card spots, they'll have to build off Wednesday's victory. Following the win, the Padres are only 6-8 in August, which must improve if they have any hopes of playing in October.
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