There is little question what Fernando Tatis Jr. has come to mean to the San Diego Padres. The franchise struggled to climb out of the NL West cellar, stuck in a stretch of 14 consecutive seasons without making the playoffs (just one of those seasons the team finished above .500).
As for what happened to change things, MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell set the stage well in February 2021:
“Tatis landed in San Diego in 2016 in the now-fabled deal that sent James Shields to the White Sox. An unheralded prospect at the time, Tatis quickly became one of the sport’s best young talents. When he was ready for a big league breakthrough, the Padres didn’t balk.
“At 20, Tatis was a surprise addition to the team’s 2019 Opening Day roster. He didn’t take long to prove he belonged. Tatis burst onto the scene as a rookie, audaciously tagging from third base on infield popups and evading tags by contorting his body to ridiculous ends. He followed it with an MVP-caliber display in ’20, batting .277/.366/.571 with 17 home runs and 11 steals. Tatis finished fourth in National League MVP Award voting and was the catalyst behind the team’s Wild Card Series comeback against St. Louis.
The Padres lost to the eventual World Series champion Dodgers in the next round. For Tatis, the loss served only as motivation.
Five years ago today, the franchise signed its superstar outfielder to a massive 14-year, $340 million contract extension. The deal included a $10 million signing bonus, a full no-trade clause, and zero deferred payments. At the time, only Mike Trout and Mookie Betts had agreed to larger deals in MLB history. Both Trout and Betts signed their deals at 27 and on the verge of free agency, while Tatis was 22 and just reaching arbitration.
Locking Fernando Tatis Jr. Up Looked Wise
Tatis was ascending to the top of the baseball world. His 39 home runs were the most by any shortstop in league history through their first 150 career games. His popularity across the sport had grown exponentially, as Cassevell noted, as he landed on the cover of the popular MLB The Show video game, and he was card No. 1 in Topps’ annual baseball card set.
That first season after signing his extension was another solid one for Tatis. Despite missing 30 games (twice for a shoulder injury sustained while diving for a ball, once for a positive Covid-19 test), he still slashed .282/.364/.611 (166 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 97 RBI, 25 steals, and a league-leading 42 home runs. He was an All-Star for the first time, won his second Silver Slugger Award, and finished third in MVP voting.
Tatis Took His Lumps
Things shifted quickly the following spring. Tatis arrived to spring training with a fracture in his wrist and would undergo surgery. Initial reports suggested he would miss at least three months. The exact cause of the injury would never be confirmed, but rumors swirled that Tatis suffered the injury in a December motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic. Not only had he gone against the team’s guidance, but he’d initially hidden the accident.
To make matters worse, Tatis failed a drug test while rehabbing his wrist injury, testing positive for a banned substance (Clostebol, an anabolic steroid). The league would suspend him for 80 games in early August, effectively ending his season before it could begin (he’d also miss the first 20 games of 2023).
Then Tatis Bounced Back
2022 proved to be a lost year for Tatis, but he’s ultimately come out of it a better player. The shoulder injuries sustained while making big plays pushed the team to move Tatis to right field, where he’s thrived defensively and won a pair of Gold Glove Awards. Offensively, he’s returned to form in the three seasons since, hitting a collective .266/.344/.459 (121 OPS+) with 81 2B, 71 HR, and 72 SB. He’s been to two more All-Star Games. His 5.9 bWAR this past season led the entire Padres team.
Heading into the 2026 season, Tatis has eight years remaining on his contract with the Padres, at which time he’ll be 35.
Padres History: Fernando Tatis Jr. Signs a Massive Extension