PEORIA, Ariz. -- About four days ago,
“Feels amazing -- especially getting that stutter-step out of the way,” Tatis said of his signature home-run trot in the Padres' 9-3 defeat. “I’m just feeling good all the way around.”\n\nIndeed, Tatis’ first homer of the spring was a hugely impressive one. He’s never homered against a harder pitch in the regular season or postseason. Only once before had he homered on a pitch harder than 98 mph -- last September against Houston’s Kaleb Ort.
Greene’s fastball caught too much plate, and Tatis launched it to center -- 109.6 mph off the bat. Cue the ensuing home-run trot and stutter-step.\n\n“I feel really good where I’m at,” Tatis said. “I feel good at the plate. … Just keeping that barrel alive. Just playing the game.”\n\nAll things considered, Tatis’ early absence barely registers as a blip. It’s mid-March, and he’s back to his usual self, hitting .273 with a .930 OPS in the Cactus League.\n\nMost importantly, Tatis says he’s fully recovered from the stress reaction in his right leg that forced him to miss two months last summer. Despite playing through that injury in the early part of the season, Tatis was named to the All-Star team and he finished the year with a slash line of .276/.340/.492 and 21 home runs.
Tatis struck out in his first at-bat Monday, when Greene dotted a 100 mph heater on the outside corner. But he exacted some revenge three innings later. The two stars exited the field together down the right-field line after the fifth inning and shared a brief exchange.\n\n“I just patted him on the butt,\" Greene said. \"He got me; I got him. Just good, competitive fun.”
**Sheets goes deep** \n
**King’s command** \n