Fernando Tatis Jr. Is Playing Second Base, And San Diego's Desperate Search For Offense Is Getting Real

Okay, Seattle, you guys HAVE to see what's going down in San Diego. Seriously, grab your coffee, this is wild. Fernando Tatis Jr. is now their everyday second baseman! No big announcement, no long ramp-up, it just... happened. We’re talking about a guy who just snagged a Platinum Glove playing RIGHT FIELD last season, and here he is, dirt under his spikes, turning double plays. He’s started at second base for five straight games, including all three against the Dodgers this week. Eight of the last nine games, folks. He IS the Padres second baseman. Wild, right?

How Did We Even Get Here?!

This was NOT the plan, trust me. The Padres initially thought Tatis would play second occasionally, maybe once or twice a week, to give their middle infielders a breather. But then Jake Cronenworth started to struggle. They began moving Tatis back and forth to platoon Cronenworth with a righty outfielder. Next thing you know, Cronenworth is on the injured list with a concussion. What's a team to do? They called up Sung-Mun Song, but he's still finding his swing in the big leagues. Meanwhile, San Diego's got Gavin Sheets, Miguel Andujar, Ty France, and Nick Castellanos all heating up at the plate, giving them major contributions. The answer? Play one of those hot bats in the outfield and make Tatis’s move to second base a bit more permanent.

Infielders coach Ryan Goins spilled the beans on their philosophy, saying, "If you’re going to be versatile, be really good at being versatile. That’s what a lot of good teams do, they can switch the lineup all around, move spots. It’s definitely a good thing. It puts more offense in the lineup, and he’s not a downgrade on defense either."

The Good, The Bad, and The Offensive Struggle

Goins isn't wrong about one thing: Tatis at second base isn't a downgrade. He’s been perfectly adequate, even getting better lately. Those double-play turns? Cleaner. His range? He’s clearly more comfortable. Just last Tuesday, he straight-up robbed Mookie Betts of a single. Tatis himself said he's "just getting reps," and Goins added that his infield background helps a ton. Mookie Betts started as an infielder too, before going to the outfield, so there’s a blueprint there. Tatis is making the athletic plays we expect.

But here’s the rub, and it’s a big one. While Tatis isn't a downgrade at second base, he IS a massive downgrade in right field. Why? Because *anyone* is a downgrade from Tatis in right field when he's playing at that Platinum Glove level! The Padres know this, and they’re okay with it. Their defense has been mostly fine, but what they’re REALLY searching for right now is offense. Tatis himself has been struggling immensely at the plate this year, which adds to the urgency. As Stammen put it, "We’re trying to score runs. You want to play offense early, get ahead, then you can put your defense in late. You just can’t have both at all times." With their superstars struggling, they NEED bats like Sheets, Andujar, and France, even Castellanos who's starting to heat up. Tatis at second is their best bet to maximize those offensive contributions.

So, what happens when Cronenworth is back from his concussion? Does everything revert to normal? Only if Cronenworth starts hitting, my friends. Otherwise, he might be relegated to a defensive replacement role, similar to Song. Right now, the only time we see San Diego’s "Platinum defensive alignment" is when they have a late lead, and Song enters at second, pushing Tatis back to right. It’s a wild card move, and the Padres are all in on it to find some runs. Let's see if it pays off!

DFS Pick'em

🏆 Underdog Fantasy: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries

Use code ONTAP to lock in this offer.

👉 Claim your $50 bonus on Underdog Fantasy

Sponsored. Must be 18+. Terms apply.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.