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Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. making undeniable case for 2025 Golf Glove Award

There is simply no one better than him right now in RF.
ByWill Lockwood|
Jul 8, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) makes a catch at the wall on a hit by Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor (22) during the eighth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Jul 8, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) makes a catch at the wall on a hit by Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor (22) during the eighth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

2025 has been quite a year for the Padres, as they are having one of the best seasons with their current core of players. Sitting only a game back of the Dodgers for the NL West crown, the outlook for this team has improved day by day.

Not only did they overcome a 9.5-game deficit in the division, but they did so while an impact bat in Fernando Tatis Jr. has been having a down year offensively by his standards. In 2025, his slugging percentage and batting average have been lower compared to years past. However, his OPS and wRC+ have remained above league average, which tells you all you need to know.

The Padres already have impact players like Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill, who have had productive seasons offensively. Newly acquired bats such as Ramón Laureano and Freddy Fermín have also contributed to the team’s recent performance at the plate.

While Tatis is not at his best at the plate, there is one element of his game that he remains elite: defense. We are seeing shades of his 2023 Platinum Glove season, when he led the league in Outs Above Average (OAA). As it stands, Tatis is on pace to surpass that total in 2025, as he already has 11 nearing the end of August.

Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. is the best defensive right fielder in Major League Baseball

OAA isn’t the only defensive metric in which Tatis has excelled in compared to other right fielders; he also holds the best Fielding Run Value (FRV) and leads the league in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). 

He even has more DRS than Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is having a Platinum Glove—caliber season in Chicago. On top of that, he has logged the second-most innings in right field, meaning he easily meets the bare minimum to qualify for the Gold and Platinum Glove awards.

While he has experienced a drop-off in production at the plate compared to years past, his defense remains elite—and that is a major reason why his fWAR sits at 5.1. There is no doubt that Tatis Jr. will be a candidate for the Gold Glove; the question is whether will be considered for the Platinum Glove.

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