Fernando Tatis, Jr.

BP - N/R
Height/Weight: 6’3” 185 lbs Bats/Throws: R/R

The Good: Tatis has big-league bloodlines and a big-league body. He features a tall, mature frame which could still be growing, along with broad shoulders which allow for plenty of muscle development. That build lends itself to easy power projection, and when combined with an intriguing hit tool for his age, provides plenty of upside potential. He has the upside of a solid-average hit tool given his knack for barreling the ball. He shows smooth actions at shortstop, which make it easy to see him handling a shift to second or third base if he grows out of the position.



The Bad: He has an unrefined approach at the plate, which is understandable given his age. While the upside on his hit tool is above-average, the amount of swing-and-miss built into his swing means he’ll likely fall short of that potential. It’s highly unlikely he remains a shortstop given his size, but he should be able to stick on the dirt. He’s an average runner at present, and given the expected development to his frame, could be a below-average runner before too long.

The Irrelevant: His father, Fernando Tatis, is the only player in MLB history to hit two grand slams in one inning.

The Role: OFP 55—Everyday third baseman with upside OFP 45—Utility infielder

The Risks: As with all 18 year olds, there’s immense risk. He swings and misses too much and hasn’t yet shown a tactical approach at the plate. He could continue to grow, potentially relegating him to the outfield where his profile would be less valuable.

Major league ETA: 2021

Ben Carsley’s Fantasy Take: The bloodlines and the bat may not be quite as interesting here as they are with Vladito, but Tatis turned himself into a prospect worth watching in dynasty leagues. He's forever away and has contact issues, but a potential 25-homer hitter at either short or third (probably the latter) is worth monitoring and possibly even worth jumping the gun on early in a league that rosters 200-plus prospects.


Fangraphs - N/R
Hit-30/50 Raw Power-50/60 Game Power-30/50 Run-45/40 Fielding-45/60 Throw-60/70

Relevant/Interesting Metrics Had .182 ISO and 26.5% strikeout in 50-PA taste of Northwest League at age 17.

Scouting Report The primary return from Chicago in exchange for James Shields early this season, Tatis was already an intriguing prospect late in the spring but continued to improve as the summer went on and now looks like a potential star. He has shortstop actions and a future 70 arm, but he’ll almost certainly need to move to third base eventually as his large frame fills in and he slows down. The combination of the arm, athleticism, hands and actions could lead to plus-plus defense at third base, though, and with more mass will come more power. Tatis has good bat speed and some natural leverage in his swing and could have plus raw power at maturity. He may never tap into it, though. The swing is noisy, with lots of independently moving parts and Tatis’ contact issues are exacerbated by the length of his limbs and his propensity to be way out in front of offspeed stuff. I have a future 50 on the bat, which is pretty aggressive considering where Tatis is at right now, but he’s still just 17 and has done nothing but exceed the expectations placed upon him as an amateur since arriving. If all the tools actualize, he’s a star. Of course, at just 17 and with hefty swing-and-miss issues, he’s also quite a risk.

KLaw - 47
Age: 18 (1/2/99) | B/T: R/R Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185 Top level: Short-season A-ball | 2016: NR

Tatis signed with the White Sox in 2015 for $825,000 but never played an official game for them, as they traded him with Erik Johnson to San Diego in June for James Shields, with Tatis still in extended spring training at the time. Within a few weeks, it became evident that the Padres had landed an outstanding prospect in the least-known part of the deal, as Tatis blew scouts in the AZL away and held his own at 17 in the advanced short-season Northwest League.

Tatis is an advanced hitter already at 17, with great feel for the game on both sides of the ball, including a good hitting approach for that age and a strong frame (he has his father’s square shoulders) that should produce at least average power but probably more. His hands are loose, and he has a quick transfer in the field with a plus arm, so if the body moves him to third base in time -- as is about 80 percent likely -- he has the arm for it and will be at least a 60-grade defender there.

 There’s upside across the board here, from the physical tools to the makeup to the incredible feel for the game in a kid who would be a high school senior right now if he were U.S.-born. There’s risk, given his age, but we might look back on this deal in a few years and call it the Fernando Tatis trade.