A COVID-19 infection forced Tatis to step away from spring training for six days, but the charismatic shortstop wasted no time upon his return. Even though the Padres lost 5-4 to the A's, Tatis made an immediate statement by hitting a towering leadoff home run against Sergio Romo right at the start of the first inning.
Romo leaned heavily on his slider, nearly striking Tatis out, but on the sixth pitch—predictably another slider—Tatis timed it perfectly for a home run. In a striking coincidence, the first home run Romo surrendered during his rookie MLB season in 2008 was hit by Fernando Tatis Sr. on July 10.
The swing was a mirror image of his father's, showing that Tatis is still playing at an elite level. True to form, he took a moment to watch the ball disappear and clapped his hands before heading to first base, looking completely satisfied with the perfection of the hit.
During the post-game interview, Padres starter Chris Paddack remarked that Tatis just does things his own way, expressing how glad he is to have the young talent on the squad. It's clear that Tatis is treating the game like a kid again, simply having fun and enjoying every moment in the center of the action.
Even the opposing manager, Bob Melvin of the A's, praised him, noting that Tatis is destined for a legendary career and is earning every penny of his contract. Melvin pointed out that what's most impressive is how Tatis plays with a constant smile, as if he's just hanging out at a local park—a stark contrast to the intense, often grim pressure of professional baseball.
This blast marks Tatis' second home run of the spring, and he also managed to pick up a single during the contest. To date, he has recorded 5 RBIs and 4 runs. While a bout of the flu had threatened his availability, he looked healthy and sharp on the field. With a massive $340 million extension over 14 years, the spotlight on Tatis has never been brighter, and he seems to be thriving under the pressure with top-tier performances.