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Padres-Dodgers: ESPN analyst walks back his comment on Fernando Tatis Jr.

ByKevin Henry|
May 6, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23)
May 6, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) | Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

In an emotion-filled series between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, two moments off the field made enough headlines to have people talking about more than just the outcome of the three-game set.

First, there was the Jumbotron incident after Friday night's Padres win that had plenty of Dodgers fans riled up about the usage of a Clayton Kershaw image. Then came a comment from ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez during Sunday night's Dodgers extra-inning victory that had Padres fans on the defensive.

San Diego Padres: ESPN comment about Fernando Tatis Jr. lives a life of its own in a few short hours

The whole "what was just said?" moment started shortly after Mookie Betts hit a game-tying home run off Padres closer Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth inning. Perez decided to add his own opinion about just how much Betts meant not only to the Dodgers, but to the game of baseball itself.

It was a quick, odd comment, especially after Tatis had blasted a pair of homers off Kershaw in the Friday night win and had played better overall from a statistical standpoint than Betts during the series. Why exactly Tatis was singled out in the moment was a topic of discussion on social media in the game's late stages and plenty after the Dodgers had sealed the extra-inning win (that was a result of Betts tying the game with the home run).

Perez, however, started Monday morning by walking back his statement pointing out to Tatis what a "superstar" looked like.

First, good for Perez for admitting the mistake. He went on in that clip above explaning that Tatis popped up on the screen as he was trying to make a point about Betts. He admitted there was a "human" side to his comment and indicated he would be apologizing to Tatis for the comment as well.

In the end, it was a moment that caught a lot of heat when it happened but appears to be nothing more than a mistake that an analyst not only owned, but will make sure he makes right with the Padres player as well.

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