Padres shuffle looms as Fernando Tatis Jr. shows leadoff form for Dominican Republic

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit leadoff for the Dominican Republic in an exhibition against the Detroit Tigers, and that appearance sharpened a debate the padres are already having in spring training about where he belongs in Craig Stammen’s lineup.

Padres weigh Tatis' spot at the top

Peoria, Ariz. — Tatis started for the Dominican Republic and delivered a 3-for-3 performance with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a run scored in the exhibition that included Julio Rodriguez batting seventh, Austin Wells eighth and Geraldo Perdomo ninth. Tatis was also 1-for-2 in a later outing against the Tigers on Wednesday.

First-year Padres manager Craig Stammen noticed the move and praised Tatis, saying, "Tati is a great leadoff hitter. 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. " Stammen has signaled he is likely to move Tatis down from the No. 1 spot, a significant shift after Tatis batted leadoff in all but five of his 155 starts in 2025 and appeared more than at any other spot in the order that season.

Why a different top of the order makes sense

Stammen and Tatis have both acknowledged the leadoff role is flexible. Tatis told Stammen he might prefer moving down, and added before heading to the World Baseball Classic, "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. "

One concrete reason for rethinking the leadoff spot: the bottom of the Padres’ order struggled in 2025. The Nos. 7-9 spots posted a. 296 on-base percentage, 17th in the major leagues, even after improvement late in the season. That weak tail reduced the number of times Tatis came to the plate with teammates on base—he had the most at-bats with the bases empty on the team and only 105 at-bats with runners in scoring position, seventh on the club. Yet he led the Padres with nine home runs with runners on base despite having just the sixth-highest number of at-bats with men on, a mismatch that underlines why the top of the order matters beyond star power.

Spring experiments, new pieces and an unsettled leadoff

Spring training has been a laboratory. Xander Bogaerts has hit first in all five games he has played this spring, and Stammen left open the possibility that Jake Cronenworth could also get turns atop the order; when left-handed Cronenworth hit first in a spring game, Stammen said simply, "Leadoff is the one spot we’re just not quite sure of who’s going to be in that spot in the lineup. "

Personnel moves have increased the Padres’ usable depth: Ramón Laureano will be with the club for a full season, and Miguel Andújar and Nick Castellanos have arrived to help address the team’s struggles versus left-handed pitching. Tatis himself expressed optimism about the 2026 lineup, saying, "I feel like this year we’re gonna have a way better lineup. A way, way better lineup. "

Stammen’s tinkering extends beyond the leadoff question; reliever Bryan Hoeing sought a second opinion on a balky right elbow and might pursue a third. For now, the manager’s choices in spring will determine whether the club keeps Tatis at the top, moves him into the middle, or mixes looks based on handedness and matchup.

Tatis has left to join the Dominican Republic as it prepared for the World Baseball Classic, and Stammen will continue to test options through the rest of spring training with the leadoff spot still unsettled heading into the regular season.