NL WILD CARD SERIES: CUBS VS PADRES

September 29, 2026

Fernando Tatis

Petco Park

San Diego Padres

Pregame Press Conference

Q. You've had quite an interesting season, but you've ended really hot. Can you just reflect a little bit on what you've learned about yourself this season and how you've changed your hitting maybe as a whole to get so hot here at the end?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: Obviously a lot of work, but I always say, and I'll keep saying it, this game is a game of adjustments every single day. You're facing different angles, different pitches. It's actually how good you can adapt day after day and still find a way how to be consistent and find a way how to help the team win is the ultimate goal every single day.

Q. What kind of experience do you have now that you feel like you take into the postseason versus years in the past?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: I just love the adrenaline and the energy that postseason games brings every single day. So just looking forward to that. At the end of the day, I know I'm just going to find a way how to help the team in different areas.

Q. Joe Musgrove on the roster, what does that mean to you guys in the clubhouse?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: It brings so much energy to the ball club, especially everybody knows how he goes about his business and how he takes care of himself and the challenge that he has been through, and being able to have success on his life and bouncing back and feeling healthy has just gave the boys way more energy. If somebody can do it in that style, it's definitely that guy.

Q. Knowing what he means to the community, what do you think it's going to be like if he comes jogging in from the bullpen?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: It's going to be electric. It's going to be one of the best entrances this year this team is going to have. Can't wait for it. I know he's going to come out of the gate hot. Man, I wish him nothing but stay healthy and help us to make a really good push all the way down.

Q. There was so much hype around you when you came up as a young player. Can you speak to the expectations around Ethan Salas and how he's fit in and how he's handled all of that?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: He came in with the right foot. He had showcased his talent for a long time already while he's 20 years old. It's impressive what he can really do. He can definitely slow the game down, and that's huge, especially for a catcher.

He has no limits. He can go to the highest level in this game if he wants to and he works for it. But it's definitely really impressive the stuff he can do on the baseball field.