Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr.'s first home run could help him turn things around

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Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr.'s first home run could help him turn things around originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After going over 240-plus at-bats without having a round tripper, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first home run of the season on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, which could be a sign for good things to come. Tatis Jr.'s lack of power this season has been a concern, as he has been a consistent 20-plus home run hitter -- Tatis Jr. hit 25 home runs in 2023, 21 in 2024 and 25 in 2025 -- since he received his suspension for PED usage, which cost him the 2022 season.

Despite the lack of power, other parts of Tatis Jr.'s game have not been affected. The three-time All-Star is taking his walks (24 with a 9.8% walk percentage) and stealing bases (14 stolen bases, caught six times).

The San Diego Padres need Fernando Tatis Jr. to turn things around, as the calendar shifts to June​

Over a third of the way through the Major League Baseball season, June is a time when hitters and teams show you whether they can turn things around or not. According to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell, Tatis Jr. is one player the Padres need to get going, especially in the power department, if they're to keep nipping on the heels of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who maintain a 5.5-game lead in the division.

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"Take your pick. Tatis finally hit his first homer on Saturday, but the struggles have been pronounced," wrote Cassavell. "But Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado have actually been worse this season offensively. Realistically, the Padres need to get all three of their superstars hitting like superstars. But Tatis’ struggles have been the most glaring, largely because of who he is -- and, conversely, what he means to the Padres. When Tatis is rolling, it feels like the Padres’ offense usually is, too."

Tatis Jr. in the past two Junes (2024 and 2025) has been the opposite of one another. In June 2024, the two-time Silver Slugger was one of the hottest hitters, batting .365 with a 1.062 OPS, five doubles and five home runs in 74 at-bats; last season Tatis Jr. hit .235 with a .707 OPS, four doubles and two home runs in 98 at-bats.

Tatis Jr., after hitting his first home run, finished off a strong month of May -- the two-time Gold Glove winner hit .284 with a .713 OPS, 11 walks (21 strikeouts), and six stolen bases (caught four times) -- could be in line to have a June like he did in 2024.

More MLB News:​

• Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski is in line to bring home some valuable hardware
• Pirates' Paul Skenes is not the odds-on favorite to win the NL Cy Young
• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani is primed to win his first Cy Young Award
• The Phillies bench has been another weak part of the roster
• Giants' Rafael Devers needs to put his struggles in 'the rear-view mirror'

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