Padres Manager Mike Shildt Praises Fernando Tatis Jr. For Handling Adversity Last Season

During a year of criticism, 'He handled it at a high level,' Shildt said of Tatis.

As the San Diego Padres are set to begin the Mike Shildt era, the new manager has already begun to sing the praises of star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. He noted how well he handled last season's adversity of returning from a suspension.

“We have a tendency to live in the past, harp on the past, and we don’t stop and look up and go, ‘Wait a minute, this guy played every day after missing 17 months, (having) three surgeries and performed at a high level … and actually leaned into some of the criticisms and the crowd and some of the things that are really, really hard to face.’ He faced them like an absolute man and a pro. He handled it at a high level, regardless of age. He hasn’t gotten enough credit for it. I’m excited about this year, and I know he is too. It’s gonna be a fun year for him.”

Per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Tribune

Entering the 2023 season, the Padres were coming off a tremendous year. They knocked out their divisional rival Los Angeles Dodgers from the postseason, reaching the National League Championship Series for the first time since 1998.

For Tatis Jr, however, 2022 was a story of one bad thing leading to another. 

First, he would miss the start of the season due to a non-baseball-related injury. Then, as he was inching closer to returning, he was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid that MLB classifies as a performance-enhancing drug. 

Tatis would ultimately miss the entire 2022 season, unable to be a part of the Padres' magical run.

Tatis was finally able to return in late April 2023, but it didn't get much easier. Almost everywhere he went, fans of opposing teams made sure he didn't forget his 2022 season, booing him and yelling "cheater" or "steroids" while he was up to bat or in the outfield.

Tatis was able to handle it well, though. He put together this iconic moment at Yankee Stadium when he hit a two-run home run as fans chanted "steroids."

Fernando Tatis Jr. goes WAY deep a few innings after Yankees fans were chanting "steroids" pic.twitter.com/nvvATUqdfW

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 27, 2023

Moments after the shot to left field, Tatis silenced Yankees fans all across Yankee Stadium and had some fun with it, proving to be one of the best personalities in baseball.

Fernando Tatís Jr. has some words for Yankees fans after his home run 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/wBzfiQcIle

— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) May 27, 2023

Tatis went on to have a great comeback year for the Padres. He played in a total of 141 games and made it clear he could play anywhere on the diamond, winning the Gold Glove and Platinum Glove award in right field. His only prior MLB experience at the position was a 20-game run in 2021.

This year, Tatis will have a full offseason to improve. He's making up for lost playing time in the Dominican Winter League, batting .346 through his first eight games with Estrellas Orientales. 

With something still to prove, a healthy Tatis should be even better in 2024 as he continues to turn the page on the disastrous 2022 season.