MLB Analyst Predicts Padres' Star Wins 2024 NL MVP
He's had multiple top-10 finishes in National League Most Valuable Player voting and won a Platinum Glove award at a brand new position — all before the age of 25.
Now, according to MLB Network's Adnan Virk, San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatís Jr. is going to add an MVP trophy to his collection this year.
Tatís is already the MVP of the Padres before the regular season begins. He's the glue in an outfield that lacks big-league experience — ironic, because 2024 will only be his second season as a full-time outfielder
Padres manager Mike Shildt met with reporters last week and jokingly said he would have Tatís play two positions at once if he could. That's how highly he is thought of on this team.
"We talked in the Dominican that he was going to play center and right at the same time. He was OK with that. I was going to petition the league, like, ‘Listen, if we can have him hit second and seventh and have a pinch-runner for him, would you guys be OK if we played an outfielder short? And just have Tati play right and center? But he gets to hit twice.’ He was on board with it. It hasn’t gotten much traction."
If Tatís can put together a strong season, perhaps an MVP award is possible. He picked up a sixth-place vote in 2023 despite missing 21 games and hitting 25 home runs — well below the 42 he hit in 130 games in 2021. It didn't help Tatís' national profile that the Padres won 82 games, falling well short of expectations.
A bounceback season in San Diego by Tatís and his teammates could result in some long-awaited postseason recognition.
