Tatis to try second base
The Padres will start Fernando Tatis Jr. at second base for the first time in his MLB career, an experiment manager Craig Stammen says could be used occasionally. Tatis, previously a right fielder, is being given a new defensive role as San Diego explores lineup versatility. The move was reported as an upcoming change rather than a permanent position switch. (nytimes.com)
Fernando Tatis Jr. started at second base for the San Diego Padres on Saturday, the first Major League Baseball start of his career at that position. (mlb.com) The move came in a 9-5 win over the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on April 11, when Xander Bogaerts got a day off and Jake Cronenworth shifted from second base to shortstop. Tatis had made only one previous in-game appearance at second base, on Sept. 6, 2023. (mlb.com) Manager Craig Stammen said the Padres are “trying to figure out a way to get Jake and Xander some days off coming up,” and called Tatis “the best option at second base” for that spot start. Stammen was hired as San Diego’s manager on a three-year deal in November 2025 after Mike Shildt retired. (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2) This was not a full position change. Stammen told reporters before the game that the Padres still view Tatis as a right fielder, where he has won two Platinum Glove awards and two Gold Gloves. (mlb.com) (baseball-reference.com) The Padres had been preparing for this longer than the lineup card suggested. Tatis said Stammen first raised the idea during spring training, and Major League Baseball’s game story reported that most of Tatis’ recent infield work had come at second base. (nytimes.com) (mlb.com) San Diego also had a roster reason to try it. Sung-Mun Song, the club’s usual infield depth option, was on the injured list with a left oblique strain, leaving the Padres without an obvious backup second baseman. (mlb.com) Tatis broke into the majors as a shortstop in 2019, then moved full-time to the outfield in 2023. Baseball-Reference lists his career defensive starts before this weekend mostly at shortstop and right field, with designated hitter appearances mixed in. (baseball-reference.com) He handled the first test cleanly. In Saturday’s win, Tatis fielded a ground ball, turned a double play and caught two popups, and Stammen said afterward that “he looked like a normal everyday second baseman.” (mlb.com) The Padres used him there again on Sunday, and Baseball-Reference logged Tatis at second base in San Diego’s 7-2 win over Colorado on April 12. For now, the experiment looks like a way to cover off days and keep one of the Padres’ best athletes in more than one defensive lane. (baseball-reference.com)
