Fernando Tatis Jris making baseball fun to watch again. His electric play, aggressiveness, and willingness to put his body on the line on every single play make him one ofMajor League Baseball’s finest entertainers.
Ironically, however, that has also raised several concerns regarding his durability and how sustainable it would be for him to play the same way over a long career, especially after signing that massive contract extension with the San Diego Padres.
Nonetheless, it seems like his teammates got his back and don’t want him to tone his game down, as Manny Machado recently shut down that narrative when asked about Tatis’ electric plays.
Manny Machado Says Fernando Tatis Jr Shouldn’t Tone His Game Down
“No chance,” Machado said in a press conference. “We’re two completely different players. I wish I had his speed. I wish I could do the things he did. But that’s just not my game play. I can’t tell him to stop diving, I can’t tell him to stop sliding. Why would I tell him to not tag up on a fly ball to shortstop? No chance. That’s who he is. I wish I could do that. But I can’t.”
“From his first year to last year, he’s gotten better with knowing himself, knowing his limits. The more he plays, he’ll understand certain things. (…) But he can’t change his game play. He’s got to be Fernando Tatis, and I think he’s going to continue to be Fernando Tatis. That’s why he’s one of the most exciting players in baseball,” Machado concluded.
Baseball is a physical sport and as such, injuries are just a part of the game. It’s true that Tatis Jr could do a better job of protecting his body but is also true that his personality is one of the many things that makes him so great.