Fernando Tatis Jr. is about to return in 2023 off an injury-laden and suspension-filled absence in 2022. That is harmful for the remainder of baseball.
The San Diego Padres had a really deep roster in 2022 once they made a run to the NLCS. Their roster in 2023 is about to be even deeper. They added Matt Carpenter and Xander Bogaerts in free company and can get a full season of Juan Soto this time round.
One MLB podcaster with Barstool Sports activities is satisfied Tatis’ reemergence generally is a enormous distinction maker for the group subsequent season.
Chris Castellani mentioned:
“The San Diego Padres are going to have a loaded roster in 2023. I wager lots of people are going to choose them to win the division over the Dodgers. Getting misplaced in all that is I believe persons are forgetting simply how good Fernando Tatis Jr. truly is.”
He continued:
“2022 was a nightmare for Tatis… on the similar time, I believe we’re forgetting how good this man was… In his final full season, despite the fact that he solely performed 130 video games, we’re speaking about any individual that put up a WAR of 6.6, he is obtained a .965 profession OPS and he is solely 24 years outdated.”
He completed with:
“Once you have a look at the lineup that’s defending him, I believe he’ll be perhaps one of the best leadoff hitter in baseball in 2023.”
Assuming the PEDs weren’t the only motive Tatis was so good, it’s completely affordable to imagine comparable numbers are potential in 2023.
How good can Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres be in 2023?
The San Diego Padres’ impressive offseason has impressed the parents at Fangraphs if nothing else. Their projections estimate that the Padres would be the fifth-best group in baseball.
In addition they imagine they are going to surpass the Los Angeles Dodgers subsequent 12 months. Fernando Tatis Jr. will greater than doubtless be the catalyst for that. They count on over 5.5 fWAR and a wRC+ of about 160.
If he could make the transition to the outfield and never be a whole catastrophe on the market, the Padres will likely be in wonderful form.
