San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has been on fire during the early stages of his sophomore campaign.
The 2019 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up entered Saturday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks hitting .291 with five homers, 14 RBI and a 1.063 OPS in 14 games this season.
Tatis Jr., who led off Friday’s game with a homer, has been having a heck of a week. That now includes the star youngster hitting another leadoff homer. This time, it came against Arizona starter Merrill Kelly.
Fernando Tatis Jr.'s week so far…
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 9, 2020
Monday: HR
Tuesday: Double
Wednesday: HR
Thursday: off
Friday: Leadoff HR
Today: Leadoff HR pic.twitter.com/w2o174ueXS
If Tatis can continue at the pace we’ve seen through the first quarter of San Diego’s schedule as the truncated season continues, the Padres might make some noise in the National League West.
After all, the Padres entered Saturday’s action boasting an 8-6 record. With Tatis on quite the roll, the Major League Baseball world had its reactions to his continued ridiculous play.
Fernando Tatis Jr. trending in 3, 2, 1…
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 9, 2020
Anybody who enjoys watching Fernando Tatis Jr. — and I'm pretty sure that's anybody who likes baseball — is going to absolutely love what we've got coming Monday on ESPN and https://t.co/YgELfWbbfb …
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 9, 2020
Fernando Tatis Jr. needs two more leadoff home runs to match Will Venable's club record. Venable played 918 games for the Padres. Tatis is playing in his 99th.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) August 9, 2020
ANOTHER LEADOFF TANK FOR FERNANDO TATIS JR. THIS MAN IS THE TRUTH pic.twitter.com/0EIHWBtvto
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 9, 2020
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a leadoff homer for the second straight day. His rise into the upper echelon of MLB players continues unabated. https://t.co/6ToT6aMj3u
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) August 9, 2020
Good things about 2020:
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) August 9, 2020
1) Fernando Tatis Jr
2) Video Games
That's it. That's the list.
Us: It's still too early to talk about MVP candidates.
— Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) August 9, 2020
Fernando Tatis Jr.: (Via @Padres)pic.twitter.com/WjoZfTjNtS
Fernando Tatis Jr. waited until the second pitch of the game tonight.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) August 9, 2020
His eighth career lead-off homer.
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