San Diego Padres: Friars Fans Can’t Help Imagining Tatis’ Future

We’ve heard the talk about the San Diego Padres’ highly-touted prospect Fernando Tatis, Jr. from coaches, players, media, even from fans lucky enough to have seen one of his home runs in person. I should say, lucky enough to have heard one.

Those of us who remember Fernando Tatis, the elder, recall a decent ballplayer who would come through with a clutch hit every so often. His son, the uber-talented Fernando Tatis, Jr., hopes to achieve some of the lofty goals he’s set for himself over the next couple of years in the San Diego Padres’ farm system.

One of those goals is one that his father had many years ago; to, hopefully, one day play in the major leagues. Judging by Tatis’ numbers and the hype surrounding what seems like his every move in Peoria, that day may not be too far away.

In his two years playing professional baseball, Tatis has impressed the Friars’ front office as well as a number of scouts from other teams who have had the pleasure/privilege of watching him play.

San Diego Padres expecting big things from Tatis in 2018

In 186 games between the Arizona Rookie League all the way up through the 14 games he played with Double-A San Antonio last season, Tatis has put up awfully impressive statistics. In 706 at-bats his slash line is .276/.359/.477. That includes 26 home runs, 100 RBI, 44 doubles, 10 triples, and 32 stolen bases.

Take away twenty games from his total and that’s practically a full MLB season. Throw in the fact that he’s playing against teams half made up of guys who will never make the big leagues and that may not seem so impressive.

But considering that all of the young pitchers he faces are technically his “peers”, he sure does set himself apart.  A smooth swing to go along with his fine glovework has Fernando Tatis, Jr. projected to make his MLB debut by the beginning of the 2020 season.

Next: Padres Top-30 Prospects

If he keeps on the pace he’s been on (which includes his mammoth home run in the San Diego Padres’ first Cactus League game yesterday), he may force his name into that conversation much sooner.