What's better: Tatis' moonshot or bat flip?
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SAN DIEGO -- Fernando Tatis Jr. connected on a belt-high Ross Stripling fastball in the fifth inning Wednesday night. And the Padres’ 21-year-old shortstop phenom left absolutely no doubt.
No doubt from the thunderous sound Tatis’ bat made when it connected for an exit velocity of 112.1 mph, the hardest he's hit a home run in his career.
No doubt from the way he swaggered as he flipped his bat, taking four steps while glaring into the Padres’ dugout.
No doubt from the way Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor merely turned and watched it soar all the way to the top of the second deck in left field, rarefied territory at Petco Park.
“There were coaches that have been around the game a long time, and they were quietly asking if they’ve seen a ball come off the bat like that,” said manager Jayce Tingler.
It was Tatis’ fourth home run of the season, and he finished 2-for-4 with a walk, though the Padres fell to the Dodgers, 7-6, in the series finale. Taylor’s brilliant throw from left field cut down Trent Grisham at the plate to end the game, as the Padres came inches shy of pulling off a remarkable comeback.
Still, Wednesday’s game left little doubt regarding what Tatis is capable of. Through 13 games, Tatis is hitting .294/.400/.647, and he’s putting all five of his tools on full display. In the first inning alone, Tatis unleashed an 87.7 mph throw on the run on an AJ Pollock ground ball. Then, he tagged from first to second base on a fly ball to Joc Pederson in right field.
A few innings later, Tatis delivered one of the loudest swings of his career, punctuating his follow through with a bat flip for the ages. With the Padres trailing 4-0 at the time, he turned and glared at the San Diego dugout, which responded in kind.
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“I'm just looking to my boys, hoping they can get a little bit pumped up, just so they know we can do it,” Tatis said. “Just keep battling.”
Asked about it after the game, Tatis quickly quashed the notion that his theatrics were disrespectful in any way.
“There was no disrespect out there,” Tatis said. "I never looked at the pitcher, never looked at them. I was just staring at my boys, trying to pump them up a little bit more. I don’t see no disrespect in that. I just try and enjoy my game.”
And why shouldn’t he enjoy it? There aren’t many players in the sport with a skill set like his.