The 2026 version of Fernando Tatis Jr. is nothing like his 2024 version, who led all National League right fielders with +15 Defensive Runs Saved and was second with 12 outfield assists. This season, he has struggled to hit a home run after 38 games. And after his embarrassing fielding blunder on Friday, Tatis has now allowed more home runs than he’s tallied.

The Padres lost to the Cardinals 0-6 and are surely not in the mood to offer Tatis any relief.

“Fernando Tatis Jr.’s nightmare start continues as error leads to Little League grand slam,” New York Post Sports shared via X.

The drama unfolded in the fifth inning, when the scoreboard was still 0-0. JJ Wetherholt hit a grounder that went straight to right field. Tatis ran forward to pick it, but the ball went under his glove and rolled all the way to the right-field wall.

By the time Padres’ 2x Gold Glove right fielder reached the ball and threw to first base, Wetherholt and the other three runners had scored. Wetherholt didn’t even have to make any extra effort to complete his four-bagger, which otherwise would have been a two-run single. A little league grand slam!

While the Padres fielders stood still, Wetherholt’s smiling face after covering home plate said a lot about Tatis’ blunder, which caught everyone by surprise.

Tatis’ blunder on Friday was not a one-off example, but was a conclusive picture of his 2026 season. He is experiencing a statistically unusual start to the season, marked by high-quality contact but a significant lack of power production. Despite ranking among the league leaders in hard-hit rate (67%) and exit velocity, he hasn’t hit a home run yet this season.

“He’s a playmaker, just trying to make a play,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “He just came up short. Things like that happen. He’s not a perfect player. Nobody’s a perfect player. Even the best players in the world make mistakes.”

Surely, mistakes can happen, but his defensive blunders, along with his offensive struggles, are making things worse. He went 0-for-2 on Friday and ended the night with a slash line of .248/.318/.299. Even Tatis acknowledges his struggle. As per Padres Wrap Up Show host Jim Russell, Tatis left the clubhouse after the game by the time the media went in.

Although Tatis avoided the uneasy media questions, fans are not giving in.

Fernando Tatis gets called out by the fans

Fans wonder whether Tatis is even performing as per his contract. “Time for Manny and Tatis to act like 300m players,” one fan said. Tatis is in the sixth year of a 14-year, $340 million contract extension, while Manny Machado is under an 11-year, $350 million contract—two 300 million+ sluggers producing roughly .248 and .195, respectively.

Just as the Padres are just 2 wins behind the table-topper Dodgers, fans think it’s time for the elite names to go all guns blazing. “Probably ran out crying,” another fan added. The media had already grilled Tatis a few times over his longest drought of home runs, and now, adding his fielding blunders, Tatis expectedly avoided the media. One big night and he will be available with his trademark smile.

However, will Tatis be here in San Diego in the long term? Fans are skeptical. “I feel like he’s close to walking out. Quitting,” one user remarked. “He’s done with this city, boot him, he’ll never be the same again with us,” another added.

Tatis has a no-trade clause in his contract that lasts through 2028. Further, Padres President A.J. Preller has labeled Tatis as part of their core, placing him “right in the middle” of their plans for the future. So, it’s very unlikely that Tatis will leave the Padres, but when it’s baseball, anything can happen. Tatis hit .276 in 2024 and .268 last year.

In 2026, he is hitting .248, which might look like an insignificant slump, but the lack of power-hitting is evident. Yes, the Padres can offload a huge financial burden if they trade Tatis, but they might bet on him at least for this year. Especially whenever players left the Padres, they performed better. “He’s a turd. But when we trade him, he will become a HOF ayer because this town is cursed,” a fan said.

Trea Turner was a “player to be named later” in a 2014 deal for the Padres. They traded him to the Nationals, where he won a World Series and became a perennial All-Star and batting champion. The Padres do not want to repeat the same mistake.

Tatis is just one game away from being his best. The third game against the Cardinals could be that moment.