Fernando Tatis Jr. just picked up his second Platinum Glove Award, and it’s worth remembering how wild this whole thing is. The guy was a shortstop just a few years ago.
The San Diego star took home the National League’s top defensive honor on Friday, while Bobby Witt Jr. won on the American League side. It’s Tatis’ second Platinum Glove in as many seasons since making the move to right field.
That transition keeps looking better for San Diego. Tatis has complete control of right field while Xander Bogaerts handles shortstop duties. The Padres get elite defense at both positions instead of trying to figure out how to fit everyone.
Learning a New Position
What makes this different is how quickly Tatis adapted. His first full season in the outfield was 2023, and he immediately won the Platinum Glove. That’s pretty much unheard of – being named the NL’s best defender while playing a position you’d never really played before.
This year he led all NL right fielders in Defensive Runs Saved and made multiple highlight plays. Witt Jr. led all MLB players in Outs Above Average to earn his first Platinum Glove.
The award’s been around since 2011, and Tatis now joins some elite company with his second win. Only six other players have won it twice: Nolan Arenado, Yadier Molina, Adrian Beltre, Matt Chapman, Alex Gordon, and now the Padres’ star.
If Tatis can grab a third, he’d join even more exclusive territory. Only Molina and Arenado have managed three Platinum Gloves so far.
From where I’m sitting, that seems pretty realistic given how he’s playing out there. The arm strength was always there from his shortstop days, and he’s clearly figured out the angles and reads you need in right field.
