Fernando Tatis Jr. rejoined the San Diego Padres earlier this season. Tatis Jr. missed all of 2022 after MLB suspended him for PED use. But as the superstar has rebounded and rehabbed, he’s adjusting well again to MLB pitching. He’s been red-hot ever since he returned to the lineup. The Padre star showed that again on Friday night as he made MLB history.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Tatis Jr. tagged future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw with a historic home run in the Padres’ 5-2 victory. And, for that matter, two home runs.
“Fernando Tatis Jr. is the first player to hit multiple home runs in a game against Clayton Kershaw twice,” ESPN Stats & Info tweeted.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is the first player to hit multiple home runs in a game against Clayton Kershaw twice. pic.twitter.com/h3KzVVx0Ft
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 6, 2023
It’s not every day that you see a fact like that. Clayton Kershaw is one of the best pitchers of his era. He’s won three NL Cy Young Awards and won the World Series in 2020. Kershaw has proven to be a force to be reckoned with ever since he arrived in Los Angeles. For the better part of the last 15 years, he’s been one of the best pitchers in the league. And absurdly dominant. So the fact that Fernando Tatis Jr. tagged him with two home runs? Crazy! The fact that he was the first to ever do it? Even crazier! Statistical distribution, folks.
The sports world reacted to the absurd news.
Funny. Takes after his father and Chan Ho Park.
Funnier: Park and Keyshawn both Dodgers.— Juan (@JuanIsidro) May 6, 2023
https://t.co/6VJRpMHN6H pic.twitter.com/PlKxZNylB6
— Back The Brown (@backthebrownSD) May 6, 2023
Tatis had the place shaking. So glad I saw this in person. 🙌🏼 https://t.co/XBrfvoYwD2
— Robert Cross (@RobbyTC_) May 6, 2023
#BringTheGold https://t.co/xh4BBx1tcu pic.twitter.com/XAfzYuBZY8
— Mickey Koke (@mickeykoke) May 6, 2023
He's a special hitter man that's why people were frustrated with his antics https://t.co/8nfGu0TLH4
— Rust Cohle's Burner 🇧🇧 (@WoLf_PaK_MeMbA) May 6, 2023