Fernando Tatis Jr. rejects the home run Derby and then hits three home runs

Hours after saying he won’t compete in next month’s Home Run Derby, the San Diego Padres shortstop, Fernando Tatis Jr., he dispatched with three homers in Friday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tatis, who entered the major league third-place in home runs on Friday, tied for the major league lead by homing in his first three at-bats against the D-backs, including a 415-foot drive to center that hit the Padres an advantage. 8-5 in the fourth inning. That brought Tatis’ season total to 25, tying the Toronto Blue Jays star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Before the game, Tatis said he would not be in the annual derby because of his left shoulder, which he had previously warned that he is at 75% after an injury earlier this season. He suffered a partial dislocation during a swing against San Francisco.

Tatis went on the 10-day disabled list and returned on April 16, then left last Saturday’s game against Cincinnati after diving for a ball at shortstop and reinjuring his shoulder.

Tatis said he hopes to participate in several derbies in the future.

“I’m 22 so I feel like there will be a lot more opportunities for me to go to the Derby, and when I go there I want to put on a pretty good show,” Tatis said.

The Padres started 4.5 games in the NL West Division on Friday.

Earlier this week, the New York Mets slugger, Pete alonso Jr., said he would defend his Home Run Derby title. Alonso won the event the last time it was held, in 2019 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, beating Guerrero by a score of 23-22 in the final round.

This year’s derby will take place on July 12 in Colorado.

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