Back in 2016, when the Padres brought Fernando Tatis Jr. to town, few would have predicted how much the trade would change the franchise.
Nearly a decade later, Padres President of Baseball Operations and general manager A.J. Preller opened up about how that big move came together and why the team was so sure Tatis could be something special.
How the San Diego Padres Took a Bold Risk on Fernando Tatis Jr. Before He Was a Star
In a recent appearance on the NY Post’s podcast “The Show,” A.J. Preller revealed that the Padres were watching Fernando Tatis Jr. long before he was a household name. Their scouting team followed him during his amateur international days, giving them a leg up when it came to seeing his potential.
“He was a guy that our group, we had a history with from the amateur international days,” Preller explained. “We had seen him as a young player, which always helps. So, we targeted him as a guy that we wanted to focus on.”
At the time of the trade, Tatis was just a teenager and hadn’t even played a professional game. But the Padres’ scouts saw something others didn’t.
“He hadn’t played a game yet, so he was in the backfield in a practice setting in these practice games. But our pro scouting group went in and thought he was the type of guy who could potentially be an impactful franchise player. So when we made the deal, he was the key piece in the deal,” Preller said.
The deal itself was risky. The Padres sent veteran pitcher James Shields to the White Sox, taking on a chunk of his salary, in exchange for Tatis and right-hander Erik Johnson. Most people saw it as a salary dump, but the Padres knew Tatis was the real gem.
“We saw last year in the playoffs, he’s a fun player to see in the playoffs. Against the best players in the world, he’s as impactful as anybody,” the 47-year-old said. “He’s a true five-tool talent, our scouts saw that before we made the deal. We were hoping that he continued to progress to be that player.”
So, what made Tatis stand out?
Preller and the scouting reports at the time said it was his athleticism, instincts, and raw power. “He has a strong arm and good instincts in the infield,” according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Even though he was years away from the majors, the Padres saw the tools of a future superstar.
Fast forward to today, and that gamble has paid off and how! Since making his debut in 2019, Tatis has become one of the most electrifying and the most marketable players in baseball.
He’s got highlight-reel defense, insane power, and has been a huge part of the Padres’ playoff runs. So much so that San Diego locked the 26-year-old up with a 14-year, $340 million extension before the 2021 season.
Meanwhile, Tatis has been amazing so far this season. He is already in the NL MVP race, competing with Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor.
In 23 games so far, Tatis has slashed .344/.417/.644 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) with eight home runs, seven stolen bases, and 17 RBIs.