Fernando Tatís Jr. Hit the Most Aggressive Homer of the 2020 MLB Season
What a righteous blast
In discussions about the best young players in baseball, it’s easy to leave out Padres shortstop Fernando Tatís Jr. He plays on the West Coast for a team last in its division last season, so it’s not like he’s in the spotlight much. But despite playing in only 83 games last year due to hamstring and back injuries, he still finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
His skills are undeniable. What makes him a real joy to watch his his personality, though. His passion and attitude are infectious.
Tatís’s combination of talent and swag was on full display Wednesday night in San Diego when he absolutely cranked a homer off of Dodgers starter Ross Stripling.
The swing was a vicious hack. The ensuing bat flip was spectacular. The stare he directed toward his team’s dugout on the way to first was the icing on the cake.
Here’s a better look at the bat flip and glare.
It should be no surprise that it was the hardest-hit homer of the 26 he’s now hit in the majors.
Watching the full at bat just reinforces how badly Tatís wanted to do some damage there. He swung at three pitches (a curveball, a fastball and another curve) and fouled them all off. Then, down 0–2, got a high fastball and took the kind of swing you’d expect to see on a 3–0 count.
We’ve seen plenty of massive homers this year (probably because MLB is still playing with tennis balls) but with the absence of fans ooh-ing and ahh-ing, none of them have been as exciting as Tatís’s. Players injecting excitement into a baseball game, what a concept!
Who wants free stuff?
Courtesy of Devils Backbone
It’s been a while since I did a giveaway, and I’ve got a good one today.
Virginia brewery Devils Backbone is a favorite for D.C. sports fans, with brews made especially for the Capitals and Wizards, as well as the new Curly W IPA for the Nationals.
The top-selling Devils Backbone brew at Nationals Park is the award-winning Vienna Lager, which is the one we’re giving away today. Winners will receive a 15-pack of the beer and a package of Nationals merchandise.
Here’s how to win:
- Go back to Tuesday’s Hot Clicks
- Find the name of the NHL player whose hat trick was celebrated by an employee throwing hats on the ice
- Send me an email (dan.gartland@si.com) with the subject line Nats giveaway and the correct answer in the body (one entry per person, must be 21+)
- The 10th, 25th, 50th and 100th persons to follow those instructions will win
(If you represent a brand that would be interesting in running a giveaway for Hot Clicks readers, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at dan.gartland@si.com.)
The best of SI
If the Blazers can sneak into the playoffs, they’re going to be extremely dangerous. ... What are the craziest statistical performances we might see in a 60-game baseball season? ... Players describe making their MLB debuts in empty stadiums.
Around the sports world
Police in Georgia are investigating a Facebook post by former wrestler Marty Jannetty in which he alluded to killing someone when he was 13. ... Jared Goff gained a little weight over the past few months but isn’t sure if it was muscle or cheeseburgers. ... MLB is tweaking its coronavirus protocols in response to recent outbreaks. ... Gregg Popovich praised Nikola Jokic as the “reincarnation of Larry Bird.”
An Aussie Rules football player called his mom to tell her he was making his professional debut, and her reaction was hilarious
NFL coaches are a special bunch
He lost his tooth and really wanted to find it
How everyone feels about the Astros
I don’t care what level it is, this is always an awesome feat
Never give up
Like the '70s White Sox, but trashier
Not sports
Instagram launched a new product designed to compete with TikTok. ... An Austrian tourist jumped up on a 200-year-old statue in an Italian museum and broke off three of its toes. ... Obnoxious YouTuber Jake Paul’s home was raided by the FBI, and guns were taken out.
The Beirut explosion hit during this bride’s photoshoot
Japanese TV is undefeated
A good song
Email dan.gartland@si.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.
