Fernando Tatis Jr. crushes first spring training home run against All-Star pitcher

It took him 13 spring training at-bats, but San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. now has a home run to his name in 2025. The Friars' right fielder, in the bottom of the fourth inning at Peoria Stadium on Monday, was facing Cincinnati Reds' ace Hunter Greene.

Greene had San Diego's number all day, and he entered the fourth frame without surrendering a run. Then, on the first pitch of the inning against Tatis Jr., he delivered a 99 MPH fastball over the plate. Tatis Jr., always with a flare, mashed a solo home run to deep center field that nearly missed the camera, which sits well-beyond the fence.

Following a 2024 campaign that saw him sidelined for 60 games, this is the vintage Tatis Jr. that Padres fans are eager to see in 2025.

Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits first home run of the spring

Pitchers are generally ahead of the hitters in spring training, so Greene entered the at-bat against Tatis Jr. with a slight advantage. The 25-year-old right-hander was locked in through three innings against a strong Friars lineup, so Tatis Jr.'s home run came at a perfect time to show the fans that there is some life in San Diego's batting order. Greene, who placed eighth in the National League Cy Young race, was named to the All-Star team for the first time in 2024, finishing the year with a 2.75 ERA and a 10.1 K/9.

Tatis Jr.'s first home run of the spring couldn't have come against a tougher opponent, which shows Padres fans that he is revved for a strong season. Tatis Jr. isn't necessarily on anyone's radar for an MVP run this year, but if he can continue doing what he showed fans on Monday, then we shouldn't be surprised if his name is atop the MVP favorites by the middle of the season.

Now, with Tatis Jr. crossed off the list of every day players to hit a home run this spring, the Padres are hopeful of Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth to be the next guys to go deep before the regular season begins.