MLB Twitter reacts to Fernando Tatis Jr. struggling in outfield: "Probably because he's a shortstop", "Their outfield defense is gonna be comedy"

Fernando Tatis Jr. has made his return to baseball after missing the entirety of the 2022 season. Prior to last year's season, he broke his wrist, which required surgery before Spring Training. Months after the surgery, as he was getting ready to make his season debut, he was hit with a PED suspension.

A lot has changed in the past year. The team signed Xander Bogaerts, who moved Tatis Jr. to the outfield full-time. Tatis Jr. is learning what most baseball players already know; playing outfield can be tough.

Tatis Jr. had some trouble tracking the ball all the way into his glove. The sun or the wind could have played a factor in him dropping the ball, or it could be that he's not used to the position.

Baseball fans were wary that he would be able to pick up the outfield position seamlessly. He's been a shortstop his whole life.

Some fans think the San Diego Padres are going to struggle defensively in the outfield. They don't think Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto are capable defensively.

Other fans aren't too worried about Tatis Jr. in the outfield. This is exactly what Spring Training is for. This is the time to make errors and learn.

It will be interesting to see how Fernando Tatis Jr. does this season

Fernando Tatis Jr. became the face of baseball before he was hit with his suspension last season. It was tough to learn that he wouldn't play at all in 2022. He may have been what the Padres needed to take them to the World Series.

He's a fantastic player who will more than likely figure it out in the outfield with time. He currently only has two games under his belt in the spring.

If he does figure it out in the outfield, the Padres may be unstoppable. They were one of the best teams in baseball last season before making a ton of moves in the offseason. It wouldn't be surprising if they dominate the National League.

The San Diego Padres are going to be a fun baseball team to watch. Their roster is full of All-Stars, and they're ready to capture their first-ever World Series title.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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