Fernando Tatis Jr. is finally on the board. The San Diego Padres star snapped his home run drought Saturday at Nationals Park, launching a 451-foot shot to left field off a 91 mph fastball from Nationals lefty Foster Griffin that caught too much of the plate.
Tatis knew it the moment he made contact, raising his arms as he left the batter's box. It was less a celebration than a sigh of relief—he'd gone 239 plate appearances without a home run, by far the most among players who can actually hit for power.
The title of the job changes quickly; the explanation usually takes a little longer to catch up.
Furthest Since 2021
The blast was his longest since a 467-footer on September 30, 2021. That's the thing about Tatis: even when the ball wasn't leaving the yard, the data suggested it eventually would. He ranks among MLB leaders in hard-hit rate and 90th percentile exit velocity. Saturday showed what happens when that hard contact finds the air instead of the ground.
There's a number that explains thewait: he's pulling the ball in the air only 6.9% of the time this season. Among qualified hitters, that's the third-lowest rate in baseball—well below the league average of 16.8%. Without pulls in the air, homers don't come. It's that simple.
Around The League
Tatis entered Saturday hitting.268/.345/.307. For context: he averaged 24 homers per year from 2022-25. He got his first of 2026 on May 30.
Other players with extended power droughts: Chandler Simpson (Rays, 227 plate appearances), Nick Gonzales (Pirates, 207), Nasim Nuñez (Nationals, 196), Luis Rengifo (Brewers, 170) and Colt Keith (Tigers, 168). Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum also hit his first homer Saturday, coming in with 109 plate appearances.