‘Real’ lineup makes Fernando Tatis Jr. batting first makes sense; Sung-Mun Song to add at least one position

PEORIA, Ariz. — It did not escape Craig Stammen’s consideration that Fernando Tatis Jr. hit leadoff for the Dominican Republic in its exhibition Tuesday towards the Detroit Tigers.

“Tati is a great leadoff hitter,” Stammen stated Wednesday morning. “He could be our leadoff hitter at some point too. I’m sure he loves it. He’s playing for a great team, playing in a great lineup.”

And there may be the factor.

Tatis is the very best leadoff possibility for the Padres whether or not it arguably is dependent upon the standard of the hitters round him.

Stammen, in his first yr as Padres supervisor, has signaled a probability he’ll transfer Tatis down from the No. 1 spot, the place he has batted in all however 5 of his 155 begins in 2025 and has appeared greater than some other spot within the order in his profession.

Stammen stated final month Tatis had indicated to him he would possibly favor transferring down within the order and had hit first because “he knew that was the best for the team in the past.”

Tatis subsequently stated it would not matter to him the place he hits. But that included an addendum he added shortly earlier than he left to be a part of Team DR because it ready for the World Baseball Classic.

“If I’m hitting leadoff, just, let’s put a real lineup down there so we can create situations,” he stated. “Because I feel like I create more chaos when I have situations.”

The greatest difficulty with Tatis batting first all of 2025 was that the underside of the Padres’ order was a wasteland. The Nos. 7-9 spots within the order had a .296 on-base share, seventeenth within the main leagues. And that was after having a .332 OBP the ultimate two months of the season. That was after the commerce deadline introduced Ramón Laureano, who primarily hit seventh, and Freddy Fermin, who hit ninth. It was additionally after Jake Cronenworth, who had a .360 OBP in ’25, moved semi-permanently to the eighth spot.

Three stats reveal the diminished alternative with Tatis within the No. 1 spot final season.

His 399 at-bats with the bases empty have been probably the most on the staff. His 105 at-bats with runners in scoring position have been seventh on the staff. And his 9 residence runs with runners on base led the Padres regardless of his having simply the sixth-highest variety of at-bats with males on.

He was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a stroll and scored as soon as Tuesday evening for a Dominican lineup that had Julio Rodriguez batting seventh, Austin Wells eighth and Geraldo Perdomo ninth. Rodriguez has two Silver Slugger awards and Perdomo one. Perdomo was on the ultimate thrice Tatis batted, and Tatis drove him in twice. (Tatis was 1-for-2 towards the Tigers on Wednesday.)

Tatis stated he’s inspired by the potential size of the Padres’ lineup in 2026. Laureano will likely be with the membership for a full season, and Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos have arrived to attempt to assist repair the staff’s struggles towards left-handed pitching.

“I feel like this year we’re gonna have a way better lineup,” Tatis stated. “A way, way better lineup.”

It appears the very prime of that lineup might look totally different from evening to evening at the beginning of the season, maybe relying on the handedness of the opposing beginning pitcher. Xander Bogaerts has hit first in all 5 video games he has performed this spring, and Stammen acknowledged this week when left-handed-hitting Cronenworth hit first that his doing so is a possibility in the course of the season.

“Leadoff,” Stammen stated that day, “is the one spot we’re just not quite sure of who’s going to be in that spot in the lineup.”

Hoeing limbo

Reliever Bryan Hoeing obtained a second opinion on his balky proper elbow Monday, and he would possibly search a 3rd opinion.

“The ball is in his court,” Stammen stated. “Waiting on what he decides to do.”

Hoeing has not thrown since feeling discomfort in his throwing elbow throughout a reside batting apply session on Feb. 24.

Hoeing labored by elbow soreness at the top of 2024 and through that offseason. He stated that resting a lot that offseason after which dashing again final spring led to the shoulder points that brought about him to begin final season late.

Short Song

The Padres have been as impressed as they anticipated to be with Sung-Mun Song’s protection at his two major positions.

Now, after a pair days taking grounders at shortstop, he’ll begin there Thursday.

“We’ve seen enough at second and third to warrant that he can play shortstop,” Stammen stated. “The more versatile he is for our team, the better it makes our ballclub.”

That nonetheless contains Song, who gained the KBO’s Golden Glove award at third base final yr, probably additionally giving left area a attempt.

“Right now, we’re trying to get him really comfortable (in a new league and new country) where he’s comfortable, in the infield,” Stammen stated. “We’ll see if that progresses to the outfield by the end of spring training.”

Song stated earlier this spring he has not performed shortstop since grade college.

“My overall goal,” he stated, “is for me to be out there every single day and play any position that they want me to be out there for.”