Padres News: Analyst Believes Fernando Tatis is Lacking Confidence After Losing Shortstop Job

A new position hasn't brought the same flair from the young superstar.

Amidst a down year for his own standards, one announcer thinks that Fernando Tatis Jr.'s lackluster performance is linked to a defensive move the young superstar made. 

On ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast of the Dodgers and Padres last weekend, analyst Eduardo Perez had an interesting take on the lackluster play of Tatis as of late. 

"When he signed that major deal, it was because he was a shortstop, not a right fielder." — Eduardo Pérez on Fernando Tatís Jr.

(H/T @TalkingFriars) pic.twitter.com/6qiVmRlTgd

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 7, 2023

While Tatis Jr.'s averages are down compared to his normal career trajectory, it's not like he's been a bad player this year. 

In fact, Tatis Jr. has an OPS+ of 115 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases while improving his defensive metrics at his new spot in the corner outfield compared to his disastrous stay at shortstop. 

After the series loss to the Dodgers where his chain was rattled by Joe Kelly through multiple inside pitches, the Padre right fielder hasn't had a bounce back series in Seattle either. 

Similar to how he was robbed by Dodger outfielder James Outman in the previous series, Tatis Jr. had another home run taken back by Mariners' center fielder Julio Rodriguez. 

Putting up an 0-4 performance in Tuesday's loss to Seattle, Tatis Jr. isn't the only Padre in the star-studded lineup who's struggling mightily as the team slips further out of contention. 

Left fielder and teammate Juan Soto called out the Friars for giving up though he too had his worst career game at the plate in his career in this very series. 

Things have gotten so bad for the team that a players-only exclusive meeting was called after their most recent loss to sort some issues out. 

For their preseason expectations, San Diego has definitely failed to live up to these lofty goals of not just a division title but a World Series win. 

They might not even get the chance should Tatis Jr. and the rest of the team continue to lose games in consecutive fashion.