History of Fernando Tatís Jr. in Timeline

Fernando Tatís Jr., nicknamed "El Niño" and "Bebo", is a professional baseball right fielder playing for the San Diego Padres in MLB. He is the son of former MLB player Fernando Tatís Sr. A prominent figure in baseball, he is known for his athletic abilities and performance.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1997: Father's MLB Career

From 1997 to 2010, Fernando Tatís Jr.'s father played third base in Major League Baseball, setting the stage for his son's future career.

January 2, 1999: Fernando Tatís Jr. Born

On January 2, 1999, Fernando Gabriel Tatís Medina Jr., later nicknamed "El Niño" and "Bebo", was born. He is the son of former MLB player Fernando Tatís Sr.

Others born on this day/year

2010: Father's MLB Retirement

From 1997 to 2010, Fernando Tatís Jr.'s father played third base in Major League Baseball, retiring in 2010, impacting the family's legacy in the sport.

2015: Signed by the White Sox

In 2015, Fernando Tatís Jr. was signed as an international free agent by the Chicago White Sox from the Dominican Prospect League, marking the start of his professional baseball career.

June 4, 2016: Traded to the Padres

On June 4, 2016, before playing a professional game, the Chicago White Sox traded the 17-year-old Fernando Tatís Jr. and Erik Johnson to the San Diego Padres for James Shields, changing the course of his career.

2017: Minor League Play

In 2017, Fernando Tatís Jr. played for the Fort Wayne TinCaps and the San Antonio Missions, achieving a combined .278 batting average with 22 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases.

July 23, 2018: Season-Ending Surgery

On July 23, 2018, Fernando Tatís Jr. underwent season-ending surgery for a broken left thumb and ligament damage sustained during a head-first slide.

March 26, 2019: Opening Day Roster

On March 26, 2019, the San Diego Padres announced that Fernando Tatís Jr. made their Opening Day roster, marking a significant milestone in his career.

April 1, 2019: First Major League Home Run

On April 1, 2019, Fernando Tatís Jr. hit his first major league home run, a memorable moment in his rookie season.

2019: Error Count

In 2019, Fernando Tatís Jr. committed 18 errors, the fifth-most in MLB that season, indicating areas for improvement in his fielding skills.

2019: Brother Signed by White Sox

In 2019, Fernando Tatís Jr.'s younger brother, Elijah, signed with the Chicago White Sox organization as an infielder, continuing the family's involvement in professional baseball.

2019: Season-Ending Injury

In August 2019, Fernando Tatís Jr. injured his back, which ended his season. Despite the injury, he finished with a .317 batting average, 22 home runs, and 106 hits in 84 games.

2020: Grand Slam Controversy

During the 2020 season, Fernando Tatís Jr. stirred controversy by hitting a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch while the Padres were already leading by seven runs against the Texas Rangers, sparking debate about baseball's unwritten rules.

2020: Most Entertaining Player

ESPN ranked Fernando Tatís Jr. as the most entertaining MLB player in 2020, recognizing his exciting and dynamic style of play.

2020: MVP Award Nomination

In 2020, Fernando Tatís Jr. finished in fourth place for the National League MVP Award, highlighting his exceptional performance throughout the season.

2020: Statistical Achievements

In 2020, Fernando Tatís Jr. led the National League in power-speed number (13.4) and recorded impressive statistics including a .277 batting average, 17 home runs, and 11 stolen bases.

2020: Baserunning Percentile

In 2020, Fernando Tatís Jr. placed in the 98th percentile of all MLB baserunners, showcasing his exceptional speed and agility on the basepaths.

2020: Silver Slugger Award

In 2020, Fernando Tatís Jr. won the Silver Slugger Award, recognizing him as one of the best offensive shortstops in the league.

2020: Wild Card Series

In Game 2 of the 2020 Wild Card Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Fernando Tatís Jr. hit two home runs, helping the Padres win the series before losing to the Dodgers in the next round.

2020: Fielding Percentage Increase

In the shortened 2020 season, Fernando Tatís Jr. improved his fielding percentage by 40 points to .984, despite committing only three errors.

July 6, 2021: Unusual High Catch

On July 6, 2021, Fernando Tatís Jr. gained media attention for an unusually high catch in a game, drawing comparisons to double jumps seen in video games.

December 2021: Motorcycle Accident

In December 2021, Fernando Tatís Jr. was involved in a motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic, which general manager A. J. Preller alluded to as a possible cause of a later injury.

2021: Contract Extension

Before the 2021 season, Fernando Tatís Jr. signed a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the Padres, which was among the richest in MLB history at the time.

2021: Error Count

In 2021, Fernando Tatís Jr. committed 21 errors, the third-most in the league that year, highlighting ongoing challenges with defensive consistency.

2021: Silver Slugger Award

In 2021, Fernando Tatís Jr. finished the season with impressive stats, including 42 home runs, and won his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award, also finishing third in NL MVP voting.

2021: All-Star and Contract Extension

In 2021, Fernando Tatís Jr. was named an All-Star and signed a 14-year, $340 million contract extension, solidifying his future with the team.

March 16, 2022: Surgery for Fractured Bone

On March 16, 2022, Fernando Tatís Jr. underwent surgery for a fractured scaphoid bone suffered during the offseason, with the cause potentially linked to a motorcycle accident in December 2021.

August 12, 2022: Suspension for Positive Drug Test

On August 12, 2022, Fernando Tatís Jr. was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid. This led to controversy and impacted his career.

August 27, 2022: Adidas Drops Sponsorship

On August 27, 2022, Adidas announced they would be dropping Fernando Tatís Jr. from his sponsorship due to his suspension for using a performance-enhancing substance, citing their policy on fair sports.

2022: Suspension

In 2022, Fernando Tatis Jr. received a punishment stemming from his failed drug test, this affected the subsequent 2023 season.

April 13, 2023: Three-Home Run Game

On April 13, 2023, while playing for the El Paso Chihuahuas, Fernando Tatís Jr. recorded a three-home run, eight-RBI game, showcasing his offensive power.

2023: Missed Games

As a result of punishment stemming from his failed drug test in 2022, Tatís missed the first 20 games of the 2023 season.

2023: Shift to Right Field

In 2023, Fernando Tatís Jr. transitioned to right field and was touted for his improved defense at the new position, marking a positive change in his defensive performance.