Padres Manager Compares Fernando Tatis Jr's Right Field Excellence to Dodgers Star Mookie Betts

The best of the best on both sides of the ball

The San Diego Padres are starting to look like the Padres we expected them to be, kind of. They are beginning to play some good baseball, and it's been a pleasure to watch. 

In particular, the stars are starting to play like it, especially superstar outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. The 24-year-old superstar is looking like the superstar he is after missing the first 20 games of the season due to a PED suspension. Not only is his bat as dangerous as it ever was his defense at right field is making a name for itself. 

Tatis' defense wasn't the best, especially at right field. He was once a shortstop, and he'll make web gem after web gem there, but his defense at right field was suspect. However, that's not the case anymore as Padres skipper Bob Melvin recognizes that and praises his superstar on his defense, comparing it to Gold Glove award winner Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

“Mookie’s moved around a little bit, but that’s probably the guy that is kind of the gold standard in right field,” Melvin said. “But he’s doing things that Mookie does.”

(via The Athletic)

Mookie is a six-time Gold Glove winner and a winner of the Wilson overall Defensive Player of the Year. Tatis Jr. has a long way to go, but he seems to be on the right track. He entered Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays with 12 defensive runs saved, which is second behind his teammate infielder Ha-Seong Kim. 

His teammates also love what they see, including Betts' former teammate Xander Bogaerts. 

“It’s really, really unbelievable what he’s doing out there on a nightly basis,” 

Fernando Tatis Jr. with an incredible throw to preserve the lead! pic.twitter.com/FmJr6Nq2OI

— MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2023

Robbed on the run 😤

Vote Tatis ⭐️ https://t.co/gyd80CEbUT pic.twitter.com/YA78j0CVRI

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 10, 2023

We're all familiar with Tatis Jr.'s bat, but his glove is something we should be looking out for from here on out.