Petco Park- San Diego, California

It’s early before a weekday game at Petco Park in 2019.

The clubhouse is mostly empty, except for rookie phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. and a few relief pitchers. The room is blaring reggaeton music as Tatis sits in front of his locker, soaking in his surroundings. The game was special for the 20-year-old at the time. It was his dream. Just being there, it was still surreal to him.

Six years ago, EVT  caught up with Fernando Tatis Jr. in the Padres’ clubhouse. It was early July, and he had just found out that he was not named to the MLB All-Star Game despite a huge first half. The shortstop owned a 1.013 OPS in the first half of his rookie season, slugging 14 homers and recording a .327 batting average. Tatis refused to discuss the MLB All-Star topic in depth, simply stating that it was out of his control and “I am just going to keep playing baseball and having fun,” Tatis said with confidence.

The rookie played the game with joy, and that was evident. However, slowly, the sport has drained some of the excitement from his play. The right-handed hitter still has his moments, but his demeanor consists mainly of melancholy-like efforts on the baseball diamond. The game of baseball is a grind, and avoiding excessive highs and lows is key to sustained success. However, Tatis played with such passion before; it’s hard to put a finger on why his body language is so different now.

The PED suspension and the horrendous 2022 season seemed to dampen Tatis’s spirit. Let’s be honest. You cannot ignore that fact. He damaged his reputation around the league and will never be able to escape the suspension. “I set the bar high and go from there,” Tatis told EVT in the 2019 interview. There is no doubt that Fernando Tatis Jr. is embarrassed about what happened in 2022. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, baseball is a way of life. Being accused of cheating is something not to be taken lightly.

In that 2019 interview, Tatis spoke about his family, playing baseball with his brothers, and his cousins on the island. The game was simpler then. It was played for fun and nothing more. “I bring a lot of the joy from there (the D.R.) to here,” Tatis said in 2019 about his play in his rookie season. The Padres need him to tap into that feeling again and play the game with delight. “I just want to enjoy the game and remember where I came from.” It is easier said than done, but Tatis is capable of regaining his epic numbers while flashing that dynamic smile.

What will it take for Fernando Tatis Jr. to get his mojo back?

Does he need a visit from his dad? His father is known to have guided his son in the past when things went wrong with his timing and hitting mechanics. His father could also provide some comfort from home and help the young player relax.

Early in his career, the Dominican played the game with reckless abandon and dripped passion with every play he made on the baseball diamond. The baseball world fell in love with that fervor, and the city of San Diego finally had their homegrown star. Yes, I know. Tatis was a White Sox draft pick, but he never played in the United States for the Sox; instead, he grew up in San Diego’s system. He is an honorary homegrown Padre.

His mechanics do not seem to be an issue. The results are not what you’d like to see from the outfielder, but he shows offensive prowess occasionally. His walk percentage is the highest it’s ever been. He is also striking out less often than he has in the past six major league seasons. His overall numbers should be up, but they aren’t. It is puzzling.

Perhaps, he is still a little banged up from the hit by pitch he suffered from Mitch Keller in early May. He just hasn’t been the same with the bat since then. He was also plunked in the Dodgers series a few weeks ago. The bruised forearm could be a problem, but a baseball player will never complain about a nagging injury. They are used to playing through pain.

The biggest issue appears to be that Tatis does not seem to be having a good time. Not like before.

He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and for several weeks (even going on two months), he has played the game in a stoic manner that is unusual for the swaggy player. The Padres need him to regain that swagger that kids emulate. If they want to succeed in 2025, the Padres need their star player to regain his mojo.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.