Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. Gets 1st-Ever Start at 2B, Has 2 Career Gold Gloves as RF

San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen said his club has been planning "for a little while" for star right fielder Fernando Tatís Jr. to make a return to the infield this season.

Tatís is set to make his first career start at second base during the Padres' Saturday home game against the Colorado Rockies.

"Trying to find a way to get [Jake Cronenworth] and [Xander Bogaerts] some days off coming up, and felt like Tatís was the best option at second base, and the most fun and exciting option at second base," Stammen told reporters ahead of Saturday's game.

Tatís has just one inning of experience at second base, which took place during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in September 2023.

First pitch between the Padres and Rockies at Petco Park is set for 8:40 p.m. ET.

The news that Tatís will be trying out the position in a game comes as Padres utility player Sung-Mun Song begins the season on the injured list.

Bogaerts was out of the lineup ahead of Saturday's matchup in what Stammen described as a "routine off day," leaving Cronenworth to take over at shortstop.

Sliding Tatís into Cronenworth's spot at second base will allow the Padres to plug in free agent acquisition Nick Castellanos, who has been appearing for San Diego as a designated hitter, into the right field position he played most often with the Philadelphia Phillies.

That risks a dip in outfield defense for the Padres given that Castellanos was a below-average defender during his final season in Philadelphia.

Tatís, on the other hand, won his second Gold Glove Award in three years last fall after tying for the NL outfield lead with 15 defensive runs saved.

The Padres could hope keeping Tatís on the same side as his award-winning outfield defense will help make for a smooth transition to the infield.

Tatís also started 10 games at second base early in his minor-league career before joining the Padres in 2019, per The Athletic's Dennis Lin.

MLB.com's AJ Cassavell noted that Tatís has regularly taken infield ground balls, and that his "reps at second base have increased" over the last few weeks.

"He likes getting work at the position — where he stays on the right side of the field, so the angles off the bat are largely the same as they are in right," Cassavell wrote.

Stammen indicated Saturday he is hoping the change will spark some enthusiasm from Tatís, who has batted just .189 through his first 14 games of the season.

"Get that kid smiling a little bit, might help... keeps his brain active, keeps him engaged and having fun and showing up to the ballpark with something new to achieve," Stammen said.

The Padres are sitting 2.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West after an 8-6 start. Stammen could be hoping a boost in offense from Tatís will be enough to help his club chase the Dodgers for the division lead down the stretch of the season.