Tatis' 'superhero' HR robbery named Play of the Week

SAN DIEGO -- Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Gold Glove case now has its signature highlight.

In the sixth inning of the Padres’ 12-2 win in the series finale vs. the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon, Tatis made a ridiculous leaping catch at the right-field wall to rob St. Louis center fielder Michael Siani of a certain home run.

On Monday that catch was also, deservedly, named the Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet.

“With the height of that wall out there, you won’t see a better play than that,” said Padres manager Bob Melvin.

Tatis has been eagerly awaiting his first chance to bring back a home run, ever since he made the full-time transition to the outfield this year. When finally given the opportunity, he did not disappoint. He jumped well above the eight-foot wall in right, going full stretch with his left arm, to take what would’ve been Siani’s first career home run away.

“It felt amazing,” Tatis said. “I felt like a superhero or something like that.”

For a moment, Tatis paused on the warning track, basking in the moment. Then, he broke into a smile and started dancing.

All season long, Tatis has dazzled in right field, mostly with his elite range and his rocket arm. He entered play Sunday leading all right fielders with nine Outs Above Average.

“It was a new challenge, since the beginning of the year, moving out there,” Tatis said. “I embraced it. I feel like everybody has seen the results, and I’m very happy with it.”

Tatis has become quite the showman in right field at Petco Park, too, taking the field before games at full sprint, before pointing to the fans and imploring them to get loud.

So perhaps it was only natural that, in San Diego’s final home game this season, Tatis would deliver something of a grand finale with his glove.

“Hopefully, that’s like an exclamation point on his case for a Gold Glove,” Melvin said.