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Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Silver Slugger nod puts Padres’ early power panic in perspective

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit five first-half homers, then 20 after the break. His Silver Slugger nod rewards a turnaround the Padres desperately needed.

By Tremayne Person · Friars on Base

Published: Thursday, 5 November 2026 at 4:09 PM

Key Things to Know

Tremayne Person argues Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Silver Slugger nomination caps a dramatic second-half power resurgence for the Padres.
Tatis hit only five home runs with a .713 OPS across 95 games prior to the All-Star break.
Following the All-Star break, Tatis recorded 20 home runs and a .995 OPS in 59 games.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Fernando Tatis Jr. earned a Silver Slugger nomination following a major second-half turnaround with the San Diego Padres in 2026. After managing just five home runs and a .713 OPS in 95 games before the All-Star break, Tatis surged to hit 20 home runs with a .995 OPS across 59 games in the second half.

Writer Tremayne Person highlights comments from Padres hitting coach Steven Souza Jr., who noted that Tatis had been pressing to hit home runs. The writer argues that Tatis succeeded by adjusting his approach and abandoning rigid power expectations, setting a vital precedent for his 2027 campaign.

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Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Silver Slugger nod puts Padres’ early power panic in perspective

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