History of Fernando Tatís Jr. in Timeline
Fernando Gabriel Tatís Medina Jr., nicknamed "El Niño" or "Bebo", is a Dominican professional baseball player known for his exceptional skills as both a right fielder and shortstop. Playing for the San Diego Padres, he carries on a family legacy in Major League Baseball as the son of former MLB player Fernando Tatís Sr.
1997: Father's MLB Debut
Fernando Tatis Jr.'s father, Fernando Tatis Sr., began his Major League Baseball career, playing third base from 1997.
January 2, 1999: Birth of Fernando Tatís Jr.
Fernando Gabriel Tatís Medina Jr. was born on January 2, 1999. He would go on to become a professional baseball player, known by the nicknames "El Niño" and "Bebo".
2010: Father's MLB Retirement
Fernando Tatis Jr.'s father, Fernando Tatis Sr., retired from Major League Baseball after a career spanning over a decade.
2015: Signing with the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox signed Fernando Tatís Jr. as an international free agent from the Dominican Prospect League in 2015.
June 4, 2016: Trade to the San Diego Padres
On June 4, 2016, before playing a professional game, Fernando Tatís Jr., at the age of 17, was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the San Diego Padres along with Erik Johnson in exchange for James Shields.
2017: Minor League Journey
In 2017, Tatís Jr. played for both the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Class A Midwest League and the San Antonio Missions of the Class AA Texas League. He also began playing winter league baseball for the Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Winter League.
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: Padres Opening Day Roster
Fernando Tatís Jr. was named to the San Diego Padres' Opening Day roster on March 26, 2019.
April 1, 2019: First Major League Home Run
Fernando Tatís Jr. hit his first Major League home run on April 1, 2019.
2019: Brother Signed by Chicago White Sox
Fernando Tatis Jr.'s younger brother, Elijah, embarked on his professional baseball journey in 2019 when he was signed by the Chicago White Sox organization.
2019: MLB Debut
Fernando Tatís Jr. made his Major League Baseball debut in 2019.
2019: High Error Rate
In 2019, Fernando Tatis Jr. faced criticism for a high error rate, committing 18 errors, which was among the highest in MLB that season.
2019: Rookie Season Cut Short
Tatís Jr.'s 2019 season ended prematurely due to a back injury. Despite this, he finished third in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year.
2020: First Silver Slugger Award and Notable Performances
In 2020, Tatís Jr. won his first Silver Slugger Award. He also participated in a four-game streak where the San Diego Padres hit four grand slams, with Tatís Jr. playing a role in each.
2020: Most Entertaining MLB Player
In 2020, Fernando Tatis Jr. was recognized for his exciting playing style and captivating presence on the field, earning him the title of "Most Entertaining MLB Player" by ESPN.
2020: Exceptional Speed
In 2020, Fernando Tatis Jr. demonstrated his exceptional speed on the baseball field, ranking among the fastest players in MLB.
2020: Clutch Performance in Wild Card Series
Fernando Tatís Jr. hit two crucial home runs in Game 2 of the 2020 Wild Card Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, helping the Padres secure a series victory.
2020: Improved Fielding Percentage
Fernando Tatis Jr. significantly improved his fielding percentage in the shortened 2020 season, reducing his errors and demonstrating growth in his defensive skills.
2020: Grand Slam Controversy
During the 2020 season, Fernando Tatís Jr. sparked controversy by hitting a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch while the Padres were already winning by seven runs. This action was seen by some as violating an unwritten rule of baseball.
2020: Fourth Place in MVP Voting
Fernando Tatís Jr. finished fourth in the National League MVP voting in 2020.
July 6, 2021: Highlight-Reel Catch
On July 6, 2021, Tatís Jr. made a spectacular catch that drew comparisons to a video game double jump.
December 2021: Motorcycle Accident
Fernando Tatís Jr. was involved in a motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic in December 2021.
2021: National League Home Run Leader
In 2021, Fernando Tatis Jr. showcased his power-hitting abilities by leading the National League with 42 home runs.
2021: Lucrative Contract Extension
Prior to the start of the 2021 season, Fernando Tatís Jr. agreed to a 14-year contract extension with the Padres worth $340 million. This deal was the third-richest in MLB history at the time, trailing only Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.
2021: Record-Breaking Contract and All-Star Selection
Fernando Tatís Jr. signed a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the San Diego Padres in 2021, making it the third-largest contract in MLB history at the time. This was also the most lucrative contract ever signed by a player not yet eligible for salary arbitration. He was also selected to his first All-Star game and won his second Silver Slugger Award.
2021: Continued Defensive Struggles
Despite improvements in 2020, Fernando Tatis Jr. faced renewed criticism in 2021 for committing 21 errors, once again ranking among the highest in the league.
March 16, 2022: Surgery for Fractured Scaphoid Bone
Fernando Tatís Jr. underwent surgery on March 16, 2022, to repair a fractured scaphoid bone sustained during the offseason. While the exact cause was unconfirmed, there were suggestions it was related to a motorcycle accident.
August 12, 2022: Suspension for Performance-Enhancing Drug
On August 12, 2022, Fernando Tatís Jr. received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing drug. Tatís Jr. claimed the positive test resulted from medication he took for ringworm, but the explanation was met with some skepticism.
August 27, 2022: Adidas Drops Sponsorship
Adidas announced the termination of their sponsorship agreement with Fernando Tatís Jr. on August 27, 2022, following his suspension for using a performance-enhancing substance. Adidas stated their commitment to fair play as the reason for ending the partnership.
2022: Suspension Due to Failed Drug Test
In 2022, Fernando Tatis Jr. faced disciplinary action and missed games due to a failed drug test, impacting the start of his 2023 season.
2022: Injury and Suspension
Tatís Jr. missed the 2022 season due to a combination of injury and a suspension for using a performance-enhancing substance.
April 13, 2023: Triple-A Performance
On April 13, 2023, while playing for the Padres' Triple-A affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas, Fernando Tatis Jr. had a standout game with 17 hits and 15 RBIs in 33 at bats, including a three-run home run.
2023: Defensive Excellence in Right Field
After transitioning to right field in 2023, Fernando Tatis Jr. earned recognition for his exceptional defense, being considered one of the best in the position.
2023: Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Awards
Fernando Tatís Jr. won both a Gold Glove Award and a Platinum Glove Award in 2023.
June 24, 2024: Injured List Placement
On June 24, 2024, Fernando Tatis Jr. was placed on the injured list due to a femoral stress reaction in his right quadricep.