Apr 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA;San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) reacts to his home run against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Houston, Texas – Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered a performance for the highlight reel and the record books on Sunday night, lifting the San Diego Padres to a tense 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros at Daikin Field. But the celebration was tempered by a frightening early injury to Padres first baseman Luis Arraez, who was carted off after a violent collision on just the second play of the game.
Tatis set the tone early, drawing a walk and scoring the game’s first run in the top of the first. In the third inning, he tripled and scored again. But his biggest moment came in the seventh with the game tied 2-2. Facing a slider from Astros reliever Tayler Scott, Tatis turned on the pitch and crushed it 427 feet to straightaway center, breaking the tie with his eighth home run of the young season.
The homer not only secured the Padres’ win but also put Tatis in elite company. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, his eight home runs through 22 games rank third-most in franchise history to start a season—trailing only Adrian Gonzalez in 2009 and Tatis himself, who hit nine through 22 games in 2020.
Tatis, now slashing .358/.427/.700 with a 1.127 OPS, 16 RBIs, and seven stolen bases, is off to one of the hottest starts in baseball. His consistency—he’s reached base in all 21 games he’s played—is a major reason the Padres sit atop the NL West at 16-6.
But the victory came at a cost.
Moments after Tatis reached second on a walk and wild pitch to open the game, Arraez laid down a bunt and collided violently with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubón at first base. Arraez went down hard, appearing dazed and bleeding from the chin. The game paused for 11 tense minutes as medical staff stabilized his neck and carted him off the field.
He was taken to Houston Methodist Hospital but returned to the stadium postgame, where he was seen chatting with Dubón. Initial tests ruled out fractures or a concussion, though the Padres remain cautious. “Best-case scenario,” said manager Mike Shildt. “Time will tell, but we’re thankful for what we know so far.”
The incident clearly shook the team. “It’s scary,” said Tatis. “I just dropped to my knees and started praying. But just seeing him back and smiling after the game meant everything.”
With several key players already on the injured list, including Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth, any extended absence for Arraez—who had been hitting .338 over his last 17 games—would be another challenge. Still, Shildt was resolute: “No one’s going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got a job to do.”
The Padres now head to Detroit for a road series with the Tigers, carrying both momentum and a sigh of relief.
