Finishing the 2019 season fifth in the National League West, the San Diego Padres showed lots of promise for their 2020 season. With additions Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres began their journey back to a winning season one game at a time. Now, 46 games into their 60 game season, with a record of 29-17, the San Diego Padres have launched themselves into the second-place spot in the National League West. Despite the constant changes occurring in the league as a result of the ongoing Pandemic, The San Diego Padres have created a new name for themselves, Slam Diego, and are taking control of their narrative; a narrative where they continuously impress fans, players, and teammates alike, hitting their expectations out of the park.
With a six-game winning streak, the Padres are looking to continue their luck in a second game against the San Francisco Giants, after defeating them 6-1 on Thursday night. Unfortunately, the second game was postponed due to a COVID positive test in the Giants Organization, leaving the Padres guessing when the rescheduled game will occur. However, two days earlier, San Diego reminded us where their nickname came from, with Wil Meyers homering twice and Austin Nola hitting a three-run slam. Since August 17th, the San Diego Padres have hit six grand slams, becoming the first team in history to hit a grand slam in four straight games, and now, the first to hit five in six games, joining the 1996 Expos and 2018 Red Sox as one of the only teams to hit 5 homers in their first 27 games.
These record breaking feats are just one of the reasons for their new nickname, as player Wil Meyers had 10 homers and 2 grand slams after Tuesday’s game against the Rockies. It isn’t just the veteran players making a splash, as the day after Meyers’ homers, Mitch Moreland, San Diego’s first baseman, hit his first, two-run homer in the first inning, 10 days after becoming a Padre. Following Moreland’s spectacular performance, Matt Kemp took a swing at the action, resulting in a two-run go-ahead homer in the sixth. After this game on September 9th, The San Diego Padres currently lead the majors with seven grand slams, ensuring no one can second guess their new nickname.
The bat breaking hits didn’t just begin, as the Padres set a new homer record last season, beating their 2017 mark, which had beat their previous 2016 mark. With a hunger to succeed, the Padres’ well of achievements has ceased to run dry, keeping their fans on their toes, anxious and excited to see what else they have hidden up their sleeves. It is not a surprise to fans to see their team succeed, as Fernando Tatis Jr reminds us of his family ties to Grand Slams, with his father being the only player to hit two grand slams in a single inning. In the sweep against the Rockies, Tatis Jr found himself involved with all four grand slams, even if he wasn’t the one swinging. After starting the party on Monday, he was on base for the following three slams, as he was on third for Meyers’, first for Machado’s, and to round out the cycle, on second for Hosmer’s.
The San Diego Padres are proving to the world that they are not to be counted out, and although Coronavirus threw the MLB a curveball right as the original 2020 season was about to begin, they are not letting that hold them back. With a new franchise record and a new MLB record under their belts, it is unclear what else the Padres have in store for the rest of their season. With less than 20 games to go and sitting in second in their league behind the Dodgers, the Padres have reminded us that they are a force to be reckoned with and are not finishing out this season without a fight.
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