Padres’ Leadoff Dilemma: Will Tatis Jr. Bat First?
PEORIA, Ariz. – The question of who will lead off for the San Diego Padres in 2026 is a hot topic, and it all revolves around the dynamic Fernando Tatis Jr. Manager Craig Stammen acknowledged that seeing Tatis batting leadoff for the Dominican Republic in a recent exhibition game didn’t go unnoticed. “Tati is a great leadoff hitter,” Stammen said. “He could be our leadoff hitter at some point too. I’m sure he loves it. He’s playing for a great team, playing in a great lineup.”
The Lineup Context
However, whether Tatis is the best option arguably depends on the strength of the hitters surrounding him. Stammen, in his first year at the helm, has hinted at a potential shift for Tatis, who batted leadoff in all but five of his 155 starts in 2025. Tatis himself has even suggested he might prefer hitting lower in the order, stating he previously took the leadoff spot because “he knew that was the best for the team in the past.” While he later clarified that his spot doesn’t matter, he added a crucial caveat: “If I’m hitting leadoff, just, let’s put a real lineup down there so we can create situations. Because I feel like I create more chaos when I have situations.”
The 2025 Struggles
The biggest issue with Tatis leading off in 2025 was the weakness at the bottom of the Padres’ batting order. The Nos. 7-9 hitters combined for a .296 on-base percentage, ranking 17th in Major League Baseball. Even with mid-season additions like Ramón Laureano and Freddy Fermin, the bottom of the order remained a challenge. This impacted Tatis’ opportunities, as he faced a disproportionate number of at-bats with the bases empty (399, the most on the team) compared to those with runners in scoring position (105, seventh on the team).
A Promising 2026 Lineup?
Tatis expressed optimism about the improved lineup for 2026, with Laureano having a full season and the additions of Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos aimed at bolstering the team’s performance against left-handed pitching. “I feel like this year we’re gonna have a way, way better lineup,” he said. The leadoff spot itself might be fluid, potentially changing based on the opposing pitcher’s handedness. Xander Bogaerts has been hitting first in spring training, and Stammen has also experimented with left-handed hitter Jake Cronenworth in that role.
Other Padres News
Reliever Bryan Hoeing is seeking a second (and potentially third) opinion on his elbow discomfort. Meanwhile, Sung-Mun Song, a recent acquisition from the KBO, is impressing the Padres with his defensive versatility, having recently begun practicing at shortstop after primarily playing second and third base. Stammen noted, “The more versatile he is for our team, the better it makes our ballclub.” Song is even open to trying his hand in left field.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
