San Diego Padres news: Fantasy baseball writer makes bold Fernando Tatis Jr. 2024 prediction

After a season where Fernando Tatis Jr. shook off the rust from a PED suspension and put up 5.5 bWAR, one fantasy baseball writer believes all eyes should be on the San Diego Padres superstar next season.

San Diego Padres: Could Fernando Tatis Jr. be the top fantasy option next season?

In this article for NBC Sports that was republished on Yahoo! Sports, the writer goes through the issues the Padres had in 2023 that resulted in them missing the postseason. Among those issues was the absence of Tatis until April 20 as he finished serving his PED suspension.

However, once Tatis was a part of the Padres lineup, he showed his skills at the plate (putting up a .257/.322/.449 slash line with 25 home runs and 78 RBI) as well as in the field (where his 11 Outs Above Average led all right fielders). There's little question that in a season where few things went right for the Padres, Tatis evolving into a double-edged weapon was among the good things Friars fans saw.

So what lies ahead in 2024 for Tatis? Well, this writer states when looking ahead, "If everything comes together, it's realistic that Tatis Jr. could wind up finishing as the top hitter in fantasy baseball next season."

Sure, it's a possibility, but if Tatis Jr. truly evolves into the top hitter in fantasy baseball next season, that's excellent news for a Padres team that will likely look much different than the 2023 version that was rolled out at Petco Park. With the uncertain status surrounding Juan Soto and if he will be a part of the Padres in 2024 and beyond, knowing that Tatis will (offseason health permitting) be not only a part of the San Diego lineup starting on Opening Day, but also could well be the centerpiece of it is a comforting thought.

Fernando Tatis Jr. as the top hitter in fantasy baseball next season? That's a prediction all Padres fans would love to see come true.