Fernando Tatis Jr. was 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in yesterday’s 9-5 Padres win over the Rockies, but the most notable aspect of Tatis’ game was his role as San Diego’s starting second baseman. It was just Tatis’ second career big league game at second base and his first start at the position, and the move came about since shortstop Xander Bogaerts had a day off. “We felt like Tatis was the best option at second base, and the most fun and exciting option at second base,” manager Craig Stammen told The Athletic’s Dennis Lin and other reporters, as the Padres look for ways to juggle their lineup, find at-bats for everyone, and keep their players fresh.
Needless to say, Tatis isn’t leaving his regular right field spot any time soon, but getting the odd game in at the keystone can add to his already high defensive value. Stammen also suggested that the position change might get Tatis rolling after a slow start at the plate, and Tatis’ three-hit night indicates that the tactic may have worked.
More from around the NL West…
- X-rays were negative on Luis Arraez‘s right wrist after the Giants second baseman was removed from yesterday’s game. An unusual play at second base saw Dylan Beavers accidentally kick Arraez in the hand while trying to avoid a tag in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Arraez was removed before the bottom of the fifth. Arraez is day-to-day for now, and since the Giants don’t play on Monday, it seems likely that he’ll be held out of today’s lineup to get two full days of recuperation. After signing a one-year, $12MM free agent deal with San Francisco, Arraez is off to a nice start with his new team, hitting .304/.339/.393 over his first 63 plate appearances.
- Sam Hentges also joined the Giants on a one-year, $1.4MM deal this offseason, and the reliever looks to finally be nearing his first game action of any kind since August 2024, as the A-level San Jose Giants announced that Hentges is joining the team on a rehab assignment. Hentges posted a 2.93 ERA, 27.7% strikeout rate, and 7.5% walk rate over 138 innings out of the Guardians’ pen in 2022-24, but his career was then put on hold by a shoulder surgery in September 2024, and then an arthroscopic right knee surgery last September. The left-hander’s rehab assignment figures to be pretty lengthy given how long Hentges has been sidelined, but he could be an intriguing x-factor in San Francisco’s bullpen when healthy.
- Blake Snell threw a 15-pitch simulated inning yesterday, facing live batters for the first time since Game 7 of the World Series. Snell began the season on the Dodgers‘ 15-day injured list due to shoulder fatigue, and he said a month ago following his first Spring Training bullpen session that he was aiming to make his season debut before the end of April. That timeline might be delayed slightly, as manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com’s Courtney Hollmon and other reporters that he team wants to see Snell built up in throwing sessions to the equivalent of four innings before Snell goes on a rehab assignment.
- Tommy Edman was one of the batters at the plate during Snell’s sim inning, which also marked the first time Edman had faced live pitching since he underwent ankle surgery last November. Edman began the season on the 10-day injured list but Roberts told Hollmon and company that the Dodgers aren’t expecting Edman back until closer to the end of May since he is “not at full speed” yet in terms of running. The timing means that Edman could be shifted to the 60-day IL at some point if Los Angeles needs a 40-man roster spot, though that decision won’t be made until Edman is deeper into the recovery process.
Padres’ radio guy Jesse Agler suggested that playing Tatis at 2b might be because late in the season, the Padres might HAVE to use Tatis at 2b if other players get injured. If they ease him into occasional 2b games early in the season, when the stakes are low, it will take the pressure off of Tatis and look less desperate to the fans.
Not sure what you mean by desperation. The team has plenty of capable 2b guys, starting with Cronenworth, but also Song and Wagner. If they’re thin at a position it’s at SS, where only Cronenworth is a viable backup presently on the roster. Once Song returns he’ll back up 2b when Cronenworth gives Bogaerts a day off. Tatis is too valuable in RF, especially when the alternative as we saw last night is Castellanos.
Mike Schlidt would have never used the phrase “most fun and exciting”.
Stammen acting like he manages the Savannah Bananas.
Fine by us!
Once Song is on the roster the Pads will be able to give Bogaerts/Cronenworth/ Machado days off without having to play guys out of position.
It might have been “most fun and exciting” but Tatis and the Infield don’t mix as far as his health has gone in his career
He’s 27 and talented. His multiple injuries have run the gamut in terms of “how” they were caused. Hard swing and a miss caused his shoulder to pop, broken finger on a headfirst slide, quad/leg injury sliding back into 3rd base on a pick off attempt, muscle soreness after stretching for a putout at 2nd… nothing indicates that playing the infield is the cause of his injuries. He handled 2nd rather well last night, again alluding to his talent. He’s a baller no matter where you put him! He’s not getting more than a handful off infield opportunities anyhow; just seemed to work last night when the team needed it.