Fernando Tatis Jr. returns to the playoffs with a towering 2-run home run for the Padres

Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. and his swagger returned to the playoffs with a bang.

The 25-year-old San Diego star hit a massive two-run home run in his first playoff swing in four seasons, giving the Padres a 2-0 lead over rookie AJ ​​Smith-Shawver and the Atlanta in their Wild's first game Braves card series on Tuesday night.

The shot traveled an estimated 415 feet into the second deck in left field at Petco Park, sending the towel-waving crowd into a frenzy. The dreadlocked Dominican, who has always played with flair, watched the ball sail away, tossed his bat aside, pointed toward the home dugout and took his trademark stutter-step around third base.

Tatis, the son of a former big league infielder, missed nearly two and a half months this season because of a stress reaction in his right femur. He returned in early September and finished the regular season with 21 home runs and a .276 average.

He scored on a 94-mph four-seater from 21-year-old right-hander Smith-Shawyer, one of the Braves' top prospects making his first playoff start and just his second of the season.

Luis Arraez had a leadoff single. Arraez, acquired in a trade with Miami in early May, became the first player since the 1800s to win batting titles with three different teams.

Tatis experienced his first playoff game with fans in the stands. He played his first playoffs in 2020 after the pandemic-shortened season. He missed the 2022 NL Championship Series after receiving an 80-game performance-enhancing drug suspension from MLB in August.

He hit his home run on the anniversary of his two home runs in 2020 in a Wild Card Series game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Mike Shildt, who led the Padres in his first season, was St. Louis' captain at the time.

Tatis was an All-Star at shortstop in 2021. He was moved to right field in 2023 and won both the NL Gold Glove Award and Platinum Glove Award.

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