Tatis receives Platinum Glove, then makes a platinum-level play

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres presented Fernando Tatis Jr. with his 2023 Platinum Glove Award on Saturday, and Tatis wasted little time reminding everyone why he earned it.

The throw Tatis made in the ninth inning on Sunday was one of the most impressive throws I’ve ever seen an outfielder make. He couldn’t quite reach Trea Turner’s popup down the right-field line. Instead, he corralled it on a bounce, and -- as he’s off-balance and spinning away from the play -- he delivered a strike to nab one of the sport’s fastest runners at second base.

“Damn,” was Turner’s reaction. “Obviously he’s really good out there, but I thought it was a good time to take a risk, try to get to second. … I still had my eyes on him when he caught the ball. I knew it was going to be tough. But watching the replay, it was an even better play than I obviously saw. That’s the shortstop in him.”

That was my first thought, too, but Turner -- a shortstop who spent time playing the outfield in Washington -- would know better than me. Sure, there are other outfielders with great arms. But this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill outfield assist. This was the type of creative throw only an infielder-turned-outfielder makes.

“It’s just an athletic play, and his background is being able to have infield experience, throwing from different angles, body control,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “I’m stating the obvious here, but the guy’s got amazing body control and athleticism.”

A couple of times each week, Tatis still takes ground balls -- sometimes at shortstop, sometimes elsewhere. Shildt was quick to note that a play like that is a large part of the reason he’s happy Tatis still does that.

The throw seemed to wow just about everyone -- except Tatis himself.

“Routine,” Tatis said with a wry grin. “I’m just being an athlete, staying in the game. I know it’s a fast runner out there, and he’s an aggressive runner also. I just tried to be one step ahead.”

That mindset earned Tatis some well-deserved hardware.