Fernando Tatis Jr. is already flashing his platinum leather for the San Diego Padres
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. made a sensational running, leaping catch in right field with a runner on second base, threw the ball back in, slapped the platinum patch on his glove and flashed his golden smile.
El Niño has stormed back for the San Diego Padres.
After playing his first three seasons with flair and swagger, his career was buffeted by injuries and an 80-game PED suspension that cost him all of the 2022 season and the first 20 games of 2023. But he was so impressive in moving from shortstop to right field last year that he won both the Gold Glove Award and the NL Platinum Glove Award, the latter voted on by fans to honor the league’s best defensive player.
Last week in Seoul, where the Padres and Dodgers played a two-game series, Tatis was in the opening day lineup for the first time since 2021. He’ll no doubt get a lively reception on Thursday when the Padres play their home opener against the San Francisco Giants and manager Bob Melvin, who was San Diego’s skipper the last two years.