Tatis Jr. Still Angry Despite Signs of a Breakout
Fernando Tatis Jr. isn’t ready to celebrate yet. The San Diego Padres superstar right fielder has been in a slump for most of May and June, and while recent games show progress, Tatis remains his own harshest critic.
“No, I’m still angry,” he told reporters, when asked if he felt any relief following an improved stretch at the plate.
Over his last four games, Tatis has gone 4-for-11 with five walks, a major step up from his May struggles. He capped the weekend by going 4-for-5 in Sunday’s 8-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, scoring three runs and driving in one.
From Ice Cold to Heating Up
May was statistically the worst month of Tatis’ career. He slashed .184 with a .626 OPS and saw his power dip despite hitting five homers. June didn’t start much better; he’s slugging just .289 this month.
However, after his big day Sunday, there’s cautious optimism that the two-time Silver Slugger is heating up. He hit .345 with a 1.000+ OPS back in April, showing just how quickly he can turn things around.
“Definitely feel better,” Tatis said. “So now it’s a matter of staying consistent.”
Playoff Race Intensifies
The Padres are three games back of the NL West lead, chasing both the Dodgers and Giants. Both are currently tied for first. Tatis’ performance may be streaky, but as San Diego eyes a playoff berth, they’ll need their star to stay locked in, even if he’s still a little angry.
