Is Fernando Tatis Jr. The Next Face of Baseball?

Fernando Tatis Jr burst onto the scene last year as one of the most anticipated prospects in all of baseball for the San Diego Padres. Tatis Jr did not disappoint in his rookie season as he hit .317 with 22 home runs and 53 runs driven in. Unfortunately for Tatis Jr and the Padres, his season was cut short due to a back injury that kept him on the IL for the rest of the season. Despite playing only 84 games in 2019, many were impressed by his combination of power, speed, and defense. In 2019 he stole 16 bases in the short amount of time he played and showed off his impressive arm at shortstop, making him what seems to be a 5-tool talent. Since he was unable to play through an entire season, many questioned his durability and wondered if 2019 was simply a fluke. Through 30 games this season, Tatis Jr has hit 12 home runs, driven in 29 runs, and has posted an average above the .300 mark. He currently leads all of baseball in both home runs and RBIs and is tied for the second-most stolen bases. Was 2019 really a fluke? I hardly think so. 

It is very difficult to argue with the outstanding numbers Fernando Tatis Jr has put up in his time played in both 2019 and 2020. With that being said, I pose a question: Is Fernando Tatis Jr the next face of baseball? This question may seem a little far-fetched at this point in time, but it is hard to ignore the potential that he has shown throughout his short big league career. If Tatis Jr could maintain this stellar production in the MLB, he will undoubtedly become one of the best players in the game and maybe even the face of baseball.

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