Fernando Tatis Jr. is bringing the joy back to baseball | ESPN Cover Story

From his jaw-dropping skills on the field to his famous father (and, yes, that hair), San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has become a must-watch player. Passan traveled to Tatis Jr’s hometown in the Dominican Republic in December to find out how he thinks about the pressure of family legacy, and again via Zoom in July, to ask him about the pressure of representing “the future of the game.”
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[@joeypxiii]

As a lifelong Padres fan, I love seeing us get some shine. I watch every Padres game I can and have since 1987 and I love this kid he is very special and his love for the game is apparent.

[@bennyg3955]

I know we'll probably have to let some key players go to clear up some payroll, but we have to do whatever it takes to keep this guy....

[@OliverPascual13]

It's our time buddy!

[@DannyCEE13]

U guys better pay him fat or the dodgers will

[@punkadiddle]

The most electrifying player I've ever watched, and he's just beginning! He's already done things on the diamond we never ever see: scoring from 1st on a single, going from 1st to 3rd on a wild pitch, and tagging & scoring from 3rd base on a pop-up to the second baseman (which he's done twice). Today, he's the closest thing we have to Jackie Robinson.

[@Roberticus2012]

As a Dodgers fan, even I cannot be blind to this great player! Respect on 💯

[@Mort0jk]

Yeah man we dodgers fans are going to have to deal with him for a long time

[@mickeymelendez1605]

Likewise 🙏

[@nathandelamora7107]

can’t wait for round 2?

[@mony4124]

Happy to call him a Padre. San Diego is grateful for Tatis Jr.

[@NotLikeAmir]

Lol to think you got this five tool player for James Shields 😂

[@johnniejay]

Hes like A-Rod, Henderson, Trout and Griffey rolled into one. A special, special player.

[@josergarcia1979]

And Vladimir

[@NotLikeAmir]

He's basically A Rod just faster and a better fielder

[@martyjacqz7901]

Better than correa?

[@3verdades832]

Marty Jacqz he’s faster than Correa and probably better defensive

[@richardayala6011]

Marty Jacqz you can’t be serious

[@jasonb619]

His energy and the skills on top is exactly what the sport needs. Seems like a great kid too.

[@tubenachos]

Jeter's charisma, Trout's tools and Rodriguez's power. You get Tatis Jr.

[@NotLikeAmir]

And a good fielder

[@Xenlacasa45]

Jeter didn’t have the charisma tatis jr has jeter is a square

[@angelv0721]

@@Xenlacasa45 facts lmao

[@tubenachos]

@@Xenlacasa45 or maybe Cal Ripken Jr.'s

[@alwillk]

Except for clutch. .182 when it mattered in the playoffs vs the Dodgers.

[@saltymanos]

Wouldn’t be possible without James Shields so thank you for that! -San Diego Padres

[@edwinalexismatosrodriguez7597]

It's nice to see him play in that position, I'm proud of my land. Me siento orgulloso de mi tierra. 😌😊

[@antonionavarrojr2848]

Vamos Tatis! Representando el caribe y toda la vieja Mesoamerica!

[@24teito]

Tatis jr MVP 2020

[@glusur76]

fr

[@mickeymelendez1605]

💯👌

[@TIGERITO-P1NTA]

Yessir

[@spitonitpawpaw7049]

Nope freeman

[@carrenpalmer3453]

love how Fernando gives an ode to his mom by wearing a bit of pink (her fav color)

[@dizzle0_0]

This guy is special, Padres have a good one here.

[@Elver99Gudon]

I love this Kid!! He might bring SD it's only Championship EVER

[@junito1008]

They said: He’s like a MLB Player created in a game with 99% power in all his abilities !! 😂 And that’s really true.

[@DCampusano1]

LOL 💯

[@junito1008]

@Lourdes Barnhart Really good video !! 😉

[@junito1008]

@@DCampusano1 And He still doing his thing !! 💪🏼⚾️

[@lindagsmith7846]

I am so impressed with this young phenom, style, class & crazy skills. He comes from a beautiful family, his dad is freaking gorgeous & hold that record for 2 grand slams, preview of things to come. God bless, stay safe & bring it like no one can, Fernando Tatis, Jr. 💖⚾💜🙋

[@biestherruiz]

We need Juan Soto too 🙌🏽🙌🏽 the best for Tatis jr

[@bennyg3955]

He looks and sounds exactly like his dad!

[@Tourszs17]

His dad sounds exactly like him

[@Elver99Gudon]

@@Tourszs17 hahaha cut it out Zach!

[@michaeldailey7103]

As a Padres fan there hasn't been a whole lot to celebrate !! In '84 I remember truck loads of people screaming , and partying after beating Chicago !! In '98 my Wife , mother , and I were dancing with local police in Pacific Beach after clinching !! We have had some exciting players , Gwynn , Winfield , Caminiti , Hoffman , but this kid is next level !!! There is something special about this team !!!!

[@joeyparkhill8751]

I wouldn't mind seeing El Nino on the cover of MLB 21: THE SHOW

[@Sublime10125]

this aged well

[@kervocam7982]

@@Sublime10125 exactly lol

[@dunham19]

Well...I got news for ya

[@jonathanmuro489]

You spoke it into existence lol

[@edenioluna1867]

The best El Niño.!!💪🏾🇩🇴

[@patarcher9199]

Repping the dopest city in the country too

[@Ranfi23]

San Pedro de macoris in da house.

[@cristobalsilva9832]

Yo soy de México pero mis respetos para j.r es chingon q siga adelante llegara muy lejos hechale tatis adelante nadie te parara eres naciste para jugar beis bol dale duro

[@randybarajas806]

This kids gonna be something special

[@teo2333]

Platano power 🔋 💪...

[@hamleguzman4193]

De verdad que Los tatis estan dejando historia dios bendiga ese chamaquito

[@jraykotheanomaly2365]

Im not even a baseball fan but you can't deny this kids amazing talent and work ethic

[@CiabanItReal]

It would be nice if ESPN brought Baseball Tonight back to ESPN.

[@CiabanItReal]

@Lourdes Barnhart Nice to meet you too.

[@MrJoseCuervo77]

As a Texas Rangers fan I tip my hat and wish all the best for Tatis Jr. His passion and energy for the game is contagious along with his million dollar smile!!!

[@pedroipatzi5217]

All I am asking for my birthday is PLEASE PADRES DO NOT SELL HIM TO ANYBODY!

[@brock1120]

you got your birthday wish! he’s here to stay 🙌🏻

[@great486]

14 years

[@iambravvo]

I wish he was in the dodgers 😭 but nah he solid for the next 14 years good for the Padres they needed a star player now they have one

[@felixrambalde6160]

Tatis jr 🇩🇴🇵🇷

[@barbaraadams2080]

Thank You Padres - An Amazing Crew Unique Exciting Heartwarming and Fernando Tatis Jr Phenomenal!

[@f58534]

His dad was a beast for St. Louis

[@alwillk]

His dad was an average player who had one really good year 1999.

[@stevendreyer560]

As a 40-year Padres fan, I can't wait ...... !!

[@rigelgutierrez9866]

The Yanks are rubbing their hands with this kid. I hope they never get him and he stays in San Diego.

[@kellyjones3466]

Me too bro. Me too. We need him here in SD.

[@brettg274]

So are the Dodgers. Make him a Padre4Life

[@Jh-zw4qb]

I was just thinking that or Boston. Hopefully he stays

[@Lauren-zy3kf]

*cries as a yankees fan*

[@romariorodriguez3797]

I would like him to go to the rays

[@Jtfreeze17]

Is this dude Dominican??!!? Shout out to Dominicans they are the most legit people you’ll ever meet coming from a black guy!! My boy just move back up to NY but I met him down here in South Miami ...we went to go visit his two friends that played for the baseball team FNU and this dude looks exactly like him !!

[@Jrc2do]

They know dominicans own algorithm just like Sammy and McGwire. They need El Niño to do it, give the Dominican players hustle respect.

[@asherfriedman5423]

If he stays healthy he will be the most exciting player in the game for years to come

[@TacoStacks]

He is the face of baseball.

[@sigbrotum2191]

@Hope Rocco trout's the best no doubt, i don't think tatis jr will ever pass him but tatis is the most fun baseball player the game has seen in decades

[@leoj7048]

@Hope Rocco ok well people have different interests

[@raythedodger]

@@sigbrotum2191 how so? I mean he has played the equivalent of one complete season. God is he the most exciting player?

[@victorbatista994]

@@sigbrotum2191 he is the fun and the greatest llévate de mi💪🏽🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴dominican power no white boy has the power💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽🇩🇴🙌🏾

[@davidrio411]

True

[@ericksonespinalpena8463]

El Niño 👊.

[@spackle9999]

Gracias por El Niño!!!!

[@notjacksonshaffer3357]

I’m so proud of my Padres my entire life they’ve been mediocre to terrible never won anything. I wasn’t alive during the 98 World Series run. This just makes me happy

[@fraynesperez]

Tatis jr lo más duro en la mlb

[@abrahambreton4768]

He is Fernando Tatis, The Third, since his grandfather bears the same name and also played baseball, only he didn't get a chance in the big leagues.

[@BQ16_]

My best player of all time I love this kid

[@ElChoero]

Orgullo Dominicano papa!!😏

[@Elanjdriab23]

Very talented and dedicated 💪🏽

[@3yron]

Tatis rocks! Go Padres!

[@manuelsilvestre3476]

Mil felicidades bendiciones

[@lethalvision8282]

He should be on ESPN top 10

[@matthewrivas3132]

He’s a beast though

[@kristingarrett3399]

golden glove this year

[@mariob9389]

Real brief cover story... intro had my thinking I should grab some popcorn.

[@aidenginn2361]

Love this video

[@anuvizgg7139]

🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴❤❤❤

[@cbanks1980]

MLB dont like swag. They still like that "good ol boy" ball.

[@shemdickson7235]

TO THIS DR-BORN MLB PLAYER, WELCOME BACK, KEEP PLAYING AND CONGRATS!!

[@EDTheOneable]

Great player.

[@Vivirdeenvidia]

Amazing!!👍👍👍

[@thetitanloco8944]

The kid 🔥🔥

[@ytlynxbaseball8565]

Fernando Tatis jr your my favourite parders player

[@jakelieb9637]

Remember his name

[@outdoorboyz8064]

He’s so good

[@juliusaaron34]

Republica Dominicana arriba

[@christopherlopez5167]

Plátano power!!!!! God bless Dominican Republic, God bless My beloved United States of America!!!!!

[@chitownhype5727]

Really Sucks The White Sox traded Tatis Jr but Tim Anderson is still one of the best shortstops in the game at 27 years old and Hes one of the leaders of the team. So cant be mad (Also the White Sox Signed Elijah Tatis his younger brother). That gives us even more hope for the future!

[@john94949]

He's the man!!!

[@manuelsilvestre3476]

Bendiciones

[@barackobama651]

I'm about to go into highschool and I always wanted to choose 23 as my number but with Tatis becoming who he is I better hope I get to be one of the first people to pick

[@tjk9263]

Wow....Father and son look like twin brothers! Tatis Sr. must know that his son is a once in a generation talent. His range on defense is incredible but he still needs work on making accurate throws to first. He sometimes throws way off the mark but that can be fixed. He needs to work on hitting discipline, not swinging for the moon all the time. Yea he has 24 HRS at the break but he is only hitting .270 avg. What is scary is he is only 22 yrs old and this good already. Wait to see what he does in a couple more seasons.....🤯🤯

[@twofour8790]

I’m glad they are letting him play and be himself. He came to the league at the right time.

[@BestFootForwardShoes]

Just remember to take 3-0 cos we have to protect the pitchers feelings

[@gabriel6281]

Una súper estrella

[@SoTeeko]

Fernando Tatis Jr. is making baseball lit af* fixed it

[@nataliehernandez1869]

ohh my loveee!!!

[@15sof]

We need more Tatis!

[@trevor0188]

He’s a beast!

[@richardmazahreh2161]

San Diego needs this kid. No sports city has been fucked over more. Single longest drought for a championship. GO PADRES!

[@alexflo5613]

As a Giants fan, I respect Tatis, he is the face of baseball right now

[@yongdol73]

Is ‘Having fun’ in the unwritten rule?

[@corbencarter-dixon5758]

“When I play the game, I’m playing my game. So why not have fun?” Fernando Tatis Jr. 🔥🔥

[@domfantin1912]

Yes

[@tamariousjeffery3932]

This will be me one day I am going to make it to the MLB

[@antonioduverge3558]

MVP this year for Tatis Jr.

[@joshuae100]

Padres finna give him a life time contract on San Diego

[@mrhollywood1589]

Tatis JR El niño/the kid. Power, speed, arm , energy .300+ batter.

[@randalsalas.5686]

I LIKE IT

[@dtruth7094]

He needs to be a forever Padre!!!

[@TheCasanovaPugilist147]

Hopefully he makes his way to Miami and becomes a Marlin.

[@aventurasdesamitsantiagosa4633]

I think baseball is underrated

[@the_alaskan_yeti2652]

If his own manager doesn't sabatoge him

[@davinlendx9537]

He’s a beast

[@josealbertoperalta4345]

El mejor de todos los tiempos será Fernando Tatis junior

[@junito1008]

San Diego is getting a taste of “Mangú” with those 2 Prime players...Tatís Jr and Machado !!

[@lamadesurvivor5216]

He’s so cold!!!

[@moneymoney2710]

El mejor

[@Jrc2do]

As a Yankees fan, this is the only player I don’t want me to go for he needs to finish his career in San Diego

[@owenchapman6662]

At 1:14 Austin hedges Vibbing in the back low key

[@arodysguzmanventura9452]

The best

[@fearsomebeard4290]

Go Padres!