Tatis Stays in Right Field as Padres Navigate Injuries

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Fernando Tatis Jr. demonstrated his elite defensive skills with a game-saving catch in right field on Saturday, further solidifying his status as a top defender. Despite recent injuries to center fielders Brandon Lockridge and Jackson Merrill, the Padres are opting to keep Tatis in right, where he earned a Platinum Glove in 2023.

“(Tatis) looks really good in right field,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “He’s a Platinum/Gold Glover. I feel like we’ve got a significant strength there. Let’s keep it a strength.”

Tatis echoed this sentiment, stating he was not interested in moving to center field to fill the gap left by his injured teammates. Earlier in his career, he had expressed interest in playing center, but after spending over two years mastering the right field position, he finds value where he is. “The right-field gap and … all the way to the corner is really big, so I see myself as more of a right fielder than a center fielder,” Tatis explained. “I won a Platinum Glove in right field. That speaks for itself. I’m really happy where I’m at.”

With Tatis remaining in right, the Padres face a dilemma in the center field position. Tyler Wade received the start at center against the Cubs on Monday, but his experience there is limited, with just 499⅔ innings played at the position compared to nearly 5,000 innings as a shortstop. Shildt also mentioned Jason Heyward as a possible center fielder, though he has only played seven innings there since the start of 2024.

Connor Joe, called up to replace Lockridge, has played a few games in center field at Triple-A El Paso this season but is expected to slot into the left field/first base/designated hitter rotation. Oscar Gonzalez, another option, has played just nine minor league games in center field but none at the major league level.

Joe, a Poway High School and University of San Diego alum, expressed excitement about joining the Padres after signing a big-league deal in February. He had been waiting for his opportunity due to a numbers game that delayed his return. “That was a tough one,” Joe said upon arriving in the home clubhouse. “But basically, just a numbers game, and the best way to keep everyone in the organization was to do it that way.”

Joe’s performance at Triple-A included a batting average of .240, with two RBIs, 11 walks, and nine strikeouts across 13 games. He made his major league debut at Petco Park in 2019, facing the Padres as a member of the Giants. “Feels great,” he noted about finally donning an “SD” hat. “Coming to San Diego was really cool, and it’s nice to be on this side of things.”

As the Padres prepare for their upcoming games, Joe is ready for the excitement surrounding home games, especially as more family and friends look to attend. “That’s just part of it,” he said. “Being from San Diego, I’m excited for it and excited for the support around me.”

Meanwhile, on the field, a recent earthquake added to the team’s unexpected challenges. Most players and staff felt the magnitude 5.2 tremor that struck near Julian on Monday with little concern. Shildt mistook it for a roof issue and only later realized it was an earthquake. Tatis laughed about his mother’s response and went back to sleep.

Reliever Alek Jacob, however, experienced the earthquake differently. Growing up in Spokane, Washington, he had always heard stories about significant earthquakes affecting the Pacific coast. “It’s always like haunted me,” Jacob said. “Like when’s it going to happen?” His moment came when he felt the tremor while on the fifth floor of his building. “That was definitely a unique experience. Part of me was a little scared because I didn’t know what was going on,” he shared. “But the other part of me is like what can you do?”