Padres outfielder hits 451-foot home run after 240 plate appearances

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a 451-foot solo home run to left field in the fifth inning on Saturday. The drive off Foster Griffin gave the San Diego Padres a 3-1 lead at the time. The team later lost 9-4. Tatis had gone 240 plate appearances without a home run, the longest such stretch in the majors. He had five 20-homer seasons previously and hit 42 home runs in 2021.

Reaction from teammates and manager Tatis flipped his bat after the hit and was greeted by teammates at home plate. "I just knew right away," Tatis said. " Padres manager Craig Stammen said the moment lifted a burden carried by both the player and the team.

Teammate Xander Bogaerts noted that Tatis would now have a "one" next to his season total. The wind blew in from left field at 10 mph, yet the ball carried several rows into the seats. Tatis had singled in the first inning and struck out in the third before connecting in the fifth.

Context of the drought The home run was Tatis' first since Sept. 27 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He later said the game offers no off days and will find ways to punish players. The Padres led 3-1 before the opposing team scored six runs in the seventh inning.