Do not be fooled by the headline; Manny Machado is still the top run-producer for the San Diego Padres. But he deserves some assistance, and Fernando Tatis Jr. is ready for the challenge.

Fernando has been a Padre for nearly a decade

Tatis Jr. has been under the local spotlight since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox as a 17-year-old prospect. He was sent along with Erik Johnson to San Diego for veteran starting pitcher James Shields. Tati, as he is known among the organization, made his major league debut in the 2019 season-opener as the team’s everyday shortstop. He went 2-for-3 against the San Francisco Giants and never looked back.

Quickly, Tatis Jr. went from brash phenom nicknamed “El Niño” to one of the top players in the sport. Now, at 27, expectations are high for him to become a big run-producer in 2026. He can break open a tight, one-run game with an extra-base hit.

Time to become a run-producer

The Friar Faithful were shocked by first-year manager Craig Stammen’s move of Tati from the leadoff spot to the middle of the batting order. It came with little complaint, as the young star understands his importance to the lineup. The organization wants to leverage the young star’s power for more run production.

Tatis Jr. gave us a sneak peek at what type of an offensive force he can become in the recently completed World Baseball Classic.

From hitting the first-ever grand slam in Dominican Republic WBC history to drilling a three-run home run that extended a lead on the eventual tournament champ, Venezuela. And do not forget, he became the first Dominican player to drive in six runs in a WBC game.

In pool play, Tatis Jr. batted .500/.692/.875 and ended the tournament, hitting .300 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Some skeptics might consider his WBC performance to be a small sample, but no one can argue with his production.

Clearly, the star right fielder was one of several standout performers in a memorable tournament.

Tatis Jr. is ready for the challenge

2026 could be the season where the Friar Faithful witness Tati grow into a more complete baseball player. He will need to bridge the gap between being an ideal leadoff hitter with power and now becoming the anchor of the Padres’ offensive attack.

Moving down in the order will see a reduction in his offensive numbers. The odds are high that Tatis Jr. will not repeat his career-high 111 runs scored from last season. However, his RBI production should increase with Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill and Machado hitting in front of him.

One of the challenges will be starters having a different pitching pattern against him during at-bats this season. Tatis Jr. might see fewer fastballs and more off-speed pitches going away from him. His calmness inside the batter’s box suggests Tatis Jr. will thrive in high-pressure situations.

All the noise and speculation will subside, as the home-opener is next Thursday.

There is no question that Tatis Jr. is ready for this moment.