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Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. borrowing Manny Machado's golden glove to play second base
TL;DR
Fernando Tatis Jr. borrowed Manny Machado's golden glove to play second base for the San Diego Padres, contributing to a 9-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The Padres have now won five consecutive games, moving into second place in the NL West.
Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. borrowing Manny Machado's golden glove to play second base originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the San Diego Padres leading in the top of the seventh inning Saturday, Colorado Rockies' Tyler Freeman grounded to Padres shortstop Jake Cronenworth, who threw a relay to new second baseman Fernando Tatis Jr., who tossed to first baseman Gavin Sheets for an inning-ending double play.
The Padres, sparked by a lineup change, earned a 9-5 victory at Petco Park.
With Tatis back at second Sunday, the Padres secured a 7-2 win, their fifth straight.
Initially panned for making the move, the Padres (10-6) have won five straight and moved into second place in the NL West.
After being approached with the idea of moving from right field, Tatis turned to a teammate to help with his transition. Starting at second base on Saturday and Sunday, Tatis asked to borrow third baseman Manny Machado's mitt, which featured a golden logo.
Tatis, a second-generation major leaguer, hoped it would bring a bit of beginner's luck to the two-time NL Gold Glove-award-winning right fielder
"I haven't won gold over here, so I need to win it first," Tatis said, as reported by @973TheFanSD.
Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. adjusting to 2nd base
The two weekend infield starts were Tatis' first since 2021. Beginning his career at shortstop, Tatis made the initial adjustment to the outfield and quickly earned a reputation for his athletic prowess, robbing several hitters of home runs with acrobatic over-the-fence catches.
Padres manager Craig Stammen indicated the move was discussed internally for a few weeks before it was implemented Saturday. The Associated Press reported Stammen initiated the lineup change so he could rest regular shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
Tatis, who had been taking pre-game grounders at second for most of the regular season, looked comfortable at second base. Not only did he help turn the key double play Saturday, but he also generated five hits in nine at-bats Saturday and Sunday.
"I can play wherever," Tatis told reporters Saturday. "I'm just here to play baseball and be a good baseball player."
Good? While using Machado's glove early in his tenure at second base, Tatis hopes his play will be golden.
Q&A
Why is Fernando Tatis Jr. playing second base for the Padres?
Fernando Tatis Jr. is playing second base to help the team after a lineup change, which has resulted in a winning streak.
How did the Padres perform with Tatis at second base?
The Padres won both games with Tatis at second base, including a 9-5 victory against the Rockies and a 7-2 win the following day.
What position did Tatis Jr. play before moving to second base?
Before moving to second base, Fernando Tatis Jr. primarily played shortstop for the San Diego Padres.
