Passionate Tatis 'built for' World Baseball Classic stage

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The passion, the flair, the intensity -- the World Baseball Classic sure feels like the perfect stage for Fernando Tatis Jr., doesn’t it?

“It’s what I’m built for,” Tatis said Friday, shortly before he left Padres camp to join the Dominican Republic ahead of the WBC.

And yet, Tatis has still never competed at the WBC. The 2021 edition was canceled due to COVID, and in ‘23 Tatis was still serving his PED suspension and ineligible to compete. At long last, he’s slated to make his Classic debut when the event gets underway later this week.

“It’s a dream come true,” Tatis said. “It’s what I wanted as a kid. Being able to do it now, at this stage of my life and my career, it’s a special moment.”

Clearly, Tatis is doing his best to soak it all in. Just take one look at his Instagram story (preferably after you’re done reading this newsletter!). Tatis is probably surrounded by all of his best friends and countrymen in some sort of baseball setting. He’s probably beaming.

That’s what the past few days have been like for Tatis. On Sunday, he posted a video of his arrival at a locker filled with “Tatis 23” jerseys in Dominican blue and red. It’s not all that difficult to grasp what the moment means to him.

Born in San Pedro de Macorís, Tatis was 14 years old when the Dominican Republic won its only World Baseball Classic title in 2013. (Such is the enduring nature of the tournament that its current participants grew up watching past versions and dreaming of participating.) Tatis recalled watching every game.

“Didn’t lose one,” Tatis said. “That was really sick. Damn. But if there’s a [Dominican Republic] team that can do it again, it’s us right now, being able to match that performance.”

Indeed, the D.R. roster is loaded. Tatis will be joined by teammate Manny Machado and former teammate Juan Soto. The lineup also features Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ketel Marte, Junior Caminero and Julio Rodríguez. The rotation is led by Cristopher Sanchez and Sandy Alcantara.

If Team USA and Samurai Japan are the tournament favorites, the Dominican Republic isn’t too far behind. And although the D.R. disappointed with a group-stage exit at the last World Baseball Classic in 2023, it’s clearly a different team this time around.

For one, Tatis is a part of it. And he’s bringing his usual swagger. Last month, Tatis was asked about potentially facing a Japan team that is also loaded with superstars.

“They’re nasty,” Tatis said. “But we’re gonna beat them.”

Those comments, naturally, made headlines. Tatis’ playful brashness usually does. But lost amid those headlines was the deep reverence with which Tatis spoke about playing for the Dominican Republic and on the international stage.

“It’s going to be a beautiful experience,” he said.

Add to it the fact that Tatis will be playing for his father, Fernando Tatis Sr., who will be a coach on Albert Pujols’ staff.

“We’ve done it before,” Tatis said. “But doing it [at the WBC] is pretty awesome.”

Indeed, Tatis has played on Estrellas Orientales teams managed by his father in winter ball, and he’s done so on other stages as well. But never at the WBC. Tatis Sr. played for the Dominican Republic at the 2009 edition.

“Having his dad on the staff, him putting on that uniform for the first time, playing in the D.R. -- I think all of those things are going to be special,” said Machado. “And it’s special to be a part of that. I was part of his first at-bat. I was part of a lot of his firsts in the big leagues. To be a part of this one, I think is going to be even more special.”

Before its group-stage games in Miami, the Dominican Republic will play a pair of exhibition games against the Tigers in Santo Domingo. The games will be played in memory of the victims from the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in Santo Domingo last April. MLB will make a donation to the Dominican Red Cross as part of the event.

Tatis noted that he hasn’t played a game in his home country since winter ball during the 2023-24 offseason.

“It means the world,” Tatis told reporters last week. “Where I come from, my family, what I’m about, my culture -- I’m really happy and glad I can represent the Dominican Republic. … Man, I’m truly blessed to be from that small island.”