Fernando Tatis avoids the tag with unreal movement

SAN DIEGO – Fernando Tatis Jr. does not make many mistakes on basepaths. But, hey, it's more fun when he does it.
It is then that the raw athletics of Tatis gets the upper hand. And there are not many baserunners with a better combination of instincts and agility than the rookie phenomenon of the 20-year-old Padres.
In a 4-1

SAN DIEGO – Fernando Tatis Jr. do not make a lot of mistakes on the basepaths. But, hey, it's more fun when he does it.

It is then that the raw athletics of Tatis gets the upper hand. And there are not many baserunners with a better combination of instincts and agility than the rookie phenomenon of the 20-year-old Padres.

In a 4-1 loss to Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, Tatis was overtaken by Mike Soroka early in the first-half game at the end of the first run at Petco Park. After a brief overview, he made one of the first acrobatic slides you've ever seen.

"We grew up in the [Dominican Republic] play games like that, "said Tatis." That's where it comes from. "

The brave Dansby Swanson chased Tatis to first base before returning the ball to Soroka – long before Tatis reached the bag. Not to be deterred, Tatis deviated to his left while stretching his right leg to the base.

In one way or another, he managed to escape Soroka's beacon. He squeezed the base of his right hand and displayed an exasperated smile.

"I did not expect him to act that way so quickly," Soroka said. That's why he's one of the most agile players in the game. I was not quite ready for that.

.@tatis_jr is the youngest player of @Padres story of having a 4-shot game. pic.twitter.com/oIcYFXEIEg

– MLB statistics (@MLBStats) July 14, 2019

For all of Tatis' elite tools, her basic game can be very impressive. Already this season, he scored a third goal on two internal popups. He scored from the second goal on two balls on the ground. And he scored from the beginning on a routine single.

"He's the first man I've ever seen to have a standing ovation for being kidnapped," said Padres manager Andy Green.

Sunday was not the first time he realized an acrobatic toboggan to avoid being tagged, although it was perhaps the first of the first-foot variety.

"It tends to avoid the labels that people think they have already made, even if it is not the case," Green said. "We make sure to take up the challenge when it's on the base."

In addition to her basic theatrical performances, Tatis has added four hits at the peak of her career. But that was not enough, as the Padres were swept home by Atlanta for the first time in 13 years.