The San Diego Padres have one of the game's most entertaining sluggers in Fernando Tatis Jr., but ahead of baseball's most exciting event, the Home Run Derby, Tatis announced that he won't be partaking in it this year.
Annie Helibrunn of the San Diego Sports Association reported Tatis's reason for passing on the derby this season. It was a similar reason he's given before, that he's nursing an injury.
Fernando Tatis Jr. on possibly participating in HR Derby: "I wish, but I've been getting cramps (around) my obliques, so I'm not going to take the chance. I feel like it's more important for me to stay healthy. And now it's going to be really three more months of baseball where…
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) July 7, 2025
"I wish," Tatis said. "But I've been getting cramps (around) my obliques, so I'm not going to take the chance. I feel like it's more important for me to stay healthy. And now it's going to be really three more months of baseball where we can turn things around and make this thing special."
Tatis is deciding to pass on the Home Run Derby to focus on the Padres' 2025 season and nurse an oblique issue he's having. While it's not a serious problem, the derby could make it worse, so he's passing on the chance to participate in his first home run derby.
Back in 2021, AJ Cassavell for MLB.com shared a story from Tatis about his decision not to participate in the 2021 Home Run Derby. Back then, he explained that while he wants to participate in a home run derby in the future, he is focused on maintaining his health.
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Four years later, with a chance to participate in the derby once more, Tatis is nursing an injury and will pass on the opportunity. The 26-year-old will likely have other chances to partake in the derby, but for now, he's going to pass due to an injury for the second time in his career.
This season, Tatis has 15 home runs and 87 hits. While not the incredible home-run total that other participants, like Cal Raleigh's 35 and James Woods' 23, he would be a very exciting player to watch.
Part of the appeal of the Home Run Derby is the batters hitting moonshots, and Tatis would be among the most capable sluggers in today's game of providing the fireworks in the Home Run Derby.
But, for this year, Tatis is passing due to an oblique issue he's trying to manage. With the Padres in a tight postseason race, Tatis is focusing on helping his team make a push for a Wild Card spot as opposed to participating in the Home Run Derby this season.
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