Padres: How Shortened Season Helps MVP Chances for Fernando Tatis Jr.

We look at how a shortened Major League Baseball season could help San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. win the NL MVP award.

It’s not to say the San Diego Padres start shortstop couldn’t win the NL MVP award over a full 162 game season, but I think having a shortened season definitely helps his chances.

Look at what Fernando Tatis Jr. did in a short sample size in 2019. In only 84 games he hit .317 with 22 home runs, 61 runs scored, 53 RBI, 16 stolen bases, an OPS of .969, and 4.1 WAR.

Through August 13, his last game played in 2019, he was tied for fifth in the NL with an wRC+ of 150. And David Freese was on that list ahead of him with a lot fewer at-bats, so really he ranked fourth.

You also have to take into account that Tatis missed all of may, so that’s 30 more games that he could have racked up for counting stats.

All that to say, he certainly would have been in the NL MVP discussion; although, no one was touching what Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich were doing in 2019.

When we do get baseball back, we will likely be looking at 100-130 games maximum for the regular season.

And really this goes for anyone, but if Tatis can get hot for a couple of months like he did in 2019, then he certainly has the ability to compete for the NL MVP.

Even if he is able to repeat what he did in 84 games last year, which is a challenge, those numbers will put him in the race.

Like many of you, I can’t wait to see Tatis Jr. back on the field and see how he follows up that great 2019 performance while he was healthy.

I certainly think an MVP is in his future, and if he gets out to a hot start in a short season, he might be able to steal one in 2020.