From Fastball On SI · · 1m 30s
Fernando Tatis Jr. Wild 2026 Turnaround
Tatis Jr. hit first homer in May, now has five 450+ ft homers.
In brief
Tatis Jr. hit first homer in May, now has five 450+ ft homers. Fernando Tatis Jr. went from hitting zero homers until May to having five 450-foot home runs in 2026. Originally reported by Fastball On SI.
Early Season Doubts
Early in the season, there were real questions about San Diego Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., but all those look like they can be put to rest.
Homerless Streak
The 27-year-old didn't hit his first homer until May 30. It was a pretty big shock, to say the least.
Homerless Streak Impact
His homerless streak had the attention of the baseball world in general, even outside of San Diego.
Current Stats
Tatis has 23 homers, 78 RBIs, 35 stolen bases and a .288/.356/.465 slash line in 149 games played.
Long Home Runs
On Tuesday, he hit his fifth homer of 450 feet or more, which is the most in baseball, per MLB's Sarah Langs.
Unlucky Streak
He simply was unlucky. He was actually in the 93rd percentile in hard-hit rate and the 87th percentile in bat speed before he even hit a homer in 2026.
Playoff Turnaround
There was a point early on in the 2026 season when Tatis was talked about as one of the biggest surprises of the season, to that point. A few months later, he's leading one of the hottest teams in baseball with the playoffs approaching.
In short
Fernando Tatis Jr. went from hitting zero homers until May to having five 450-foot home runs in 2026.
