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PHOENIX — A lot of the talk surrounding Fernando Tatis Jr. in the days, weeks and months leading up to his return focused on how he would handle the vitriol at opposing ballparks.

But in the middle of Thursday’s eighth inning, there were cheers. A contingent of San Diego Padres fans made the trip to Chase Field and settled near the right-field corner, where they had the best view of Tatis’ signature highlight — an acrobatic lunging catch that robbed Josh Rojas of extra bases.

Tatis secured the inning-ending catch, stylishly leaped against the fence, blew a bubble with his gum and saluted those fans as he made his way back into the visiting dugout. There were a fair amount of boos for Tatis in Phoenix — and much stronger hostility will follow in other venues — but the support stood out.

“There were more Padres fans here than Arizona fans,” Tatis said after his team’s 7-5 victory over the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks. “Amazing how they show up. They were loud. I felt like we were at home.”

Tatis went 0-for-5 in his highly anticipated season debut, striking out twice — including in his first at-bat — but also making two outs on batted balls that traveled 100-plus mph. On defense, he made that highlight-reel catch but also overthrew his cutoff man on one occasion and barely avoided a collision with his second baseman on another, a sign of the work still required from a former shortstop who is getting acclimated to the corner outfield.

“It felt amazing, great, just to be back out there with my boys in the jungle,” Tatis said. “The jungle’s real. But just happy. Happy to get that ‘W’ and just to be back out there.”

It had been 564 days since Tatis last graced a baseball field in a major league game with actual stakes. And so there are obvious concerns — given the season-long absence, the steroid-related suspension, the surgeries to both his wrist and shoulder — about whether he can recapture the superstar level he previously displayed.

Not from Tatis, apparently.

Moments before he would lead off in the Padres’ series opener — ahead of fellow superstars Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, respectively — Tatis was asked about his level of confidence in getting back to who he was. He laughed.

“110 percent,” he said.

Tatis hadn’t played since 2021, a season that began with a 14-year, $340 million extension and ended with a third-place finish in National League MVP voting. The events that followed changed the entire trajectory of his blossoming career. It began with a motorcycle accident the ensuing December, while Major League Baseball was in an owner-imposed lockout that prevented teams from communicating with their players. Tatis later arrived to spring training with a wrist injury that would keep him out for most of the next five months. And as he was nearing a return, Tatis tested positive for an anabolic steroid, Clostebol, triggering an 80-game suspension that kept him out for the remainder of 2022 and the first 20 games of 2023.

Tatis believes he is “more mature” in the wake of all that. Asked what he learned from the experience, Tatis said: “That this world goes around so many different ways. You gotta stay humble every time and just enjoy the moment, be grateful every single time. Just be happy.”

Tatis’ steroid suspension put him on a path to try to earn back trust with his teammates and his bosses. He agreed to undergo the left shoulder surgery that the Padres had recommended a year earlier and also a second cleanup of his injured left wrist; he maintained more regular contact with the organization in the ensuing months; and he went to work early, returning to San Diego for baseball activities in January and being among the first to report to the team’s spring training complex in February. Melvin, who didn’t spend much time with Tatis during his first season in 2022, found him “easy to manage.”

“You do some soul-searching during those times, and you realize how lucky you are to be a big league player,” Melvin said. “And when you come back from something like that, you get humbled a little bit and appreciative. He’s been nothing but easy to deal with, easy to manage in spring training, and doing anything he has to do to help his team win. I think all the guys feel that.”

Tatis began spring training in an 0-for-16 slump, then had 12 hits in his last 26 at-bats. He then dominated a subsequent stint with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, Texas, hitting .515/.590/1.212 with seven home runs in eight games. The last six of those came in a stretch of three games. The first of those prompted the pitcher who gave it up, Kade McClure, to call him a “cheater” on Twitter, an indication of the backlash Tatis will receive upon his return.

“That’s gonna come,” Tatis said. “Everybody has freedom of expression in this country, and nothing I can do about it. I’m just gonna keep playing this game and enjoy every part of it.”

Tatis has undoubtedly seemed joyful as he has made his way back to baseball. He has smiled often, has approached his new position of right field with noticeable enthusiasm – the type he didn’t display when forced to occasionally play there in order to account for frequent shoulder subluxations – and has celebrated with his customary flair and swagger.

“Just being far for a period of time — it gave me time to realize how really blessed I am to be able to play this game at the level that I play it,” Tatis said. “All the kids that are watching – the vibe they give me, that love they give me, it just feeds me every single time.”

Before the events of 2022, Tatis was looked upon as the next face of his sport, securing major sponsorship deals with Adidas and Gatorade and gracing the cover of the popular video game “MLB: The Show.” By that point, he had become the first player to combine at least 80 home runs and 50 stolen bases within his first 300 career games. Tatis totaled 81 home runs and 52 stolen bases in 273 career games – all before his 23rd birthday.

He still thinks that’s who he is, even if his return did not immediately show it.

“It’s just me playing baseball,” Tatis said. “It’s nothing different. It’s been the same way since Day 0, and it’s gonna keep being the same way.”

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Nats seek ‘fresh approach,’ fire Martinez, Rizzo

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Nats seek 'fresh approach,' fire Martinez, Rizzo

The last-place Washington Nationals fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez, the team announced Sunday.

Rizzo, 64, and Martinez, 60, won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, but the team has floundered in recent years. This season, the Nationals are 37-53 and stuck at the bottom of the National League East after getting swept by the Boston Red Sox this weekend at home. Washington hasn’t finished higher than fourth in the division since winning the World Series.

“On behalf of our family and the Washington Nationals organization, I first and foremost want to thank Mike and Davey for their contributions to our franchise and our city,” principal owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington, D.C.

“While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”

Mike DeBartolo, the club’s senior vice president and assistant general manager, was named interim GM on Sunday night. DeBartolo will oversee all aspects of baseball operations, including the MLB draft. An announcement will be made on the interim manager Monday, a day before the club begins a series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rizzo has been the top decision-maker in Washington since 2013, and Martinez has been on board since 2018. Under Rizzo’s leadership, the team made the postseason four times: in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. The latter season was Martinez’s lone playoff appearance.

“When our family assumed control of the team, nearly 20 years ago, Mike was the first hire we made,” Lerner said. “Over two decades, he was with us as we went from a fledging team in a new city to World Series champion. Mike helped make us who we are as an organization, and we’re so thankful to him for his hard work and dedication — not just on the field and in the front office, but in the community as well.”

The Nationals are in the midst of a rebuild that has moved slower than expected, though the team didn’t augment its young core much during the winter. Led by All-Stars James Wood and MacKenzie Gore, Washington has the second-youngest group of hitters in MLB and the sixth-youngest pitching staff.

The team lost 11 straight games in a forgettable stretch last month. And during a 2-10 run in June, Washington averaged just 2.5 runs. Since June 1, the Nationals have scored one run or been shut out seven times. In Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Boston, they left 15 runners on base.

There was industry speculation over the winter that the Nationals would spend money on free agents for the first time in several years, but that never materialized. Instead, the team made minor moves, signing free agents Josh Bell and Michael Soroka, trading for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and re-signing closer Kyle Finnegan. Now, the hope is a new management team, both on and off the field, can help change the franchise’s fortunes.

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Kershaw gets special ASG invite; no Soto, Betts

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Kershaw gets special ASG invite; no Soto, Betts

The rosters for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game will feature 19 first-timers — and one legend — as the pitchers and reserves were announced Sunday for the July 15 contest at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner who made his first All-Star team in 2011, was named to his 11th National League roster as a special commissioner’s selection.

Kershaw, who became only the fourth left-hander to amass 3,000 career strikeouts, is 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA in nine starts after beginning the season on the injured list. He joins Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera as a legend choice, after the pair of sluggers were selected in 2022.

Kershaw said he didn’t want to discuss the selection Sunday.

Among the first-time All-Stars announced Sunday: Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto; Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood and left-hander MacKenzie Gore; Houston Astros ace Hunter Brown and shortstop Jeremy Pena; and Chicago Cubs 34-year-old left-hander Matthew Boyd.

“It’ll just be cool being around some of the best players in the game,” Wood said.

First-time All-Stars previously elected to start by the fans include Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Overall, the 19 first-time All-Stars is a drop from the 32 first-time selections on the initial rosters in 2024.

Kershaw would be the sentimental choice to start for the National League, although Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who leads NL pitchers in ERA and WAR, might be in line to start his second straight contest. Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, a three-time All-Star, is 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA after Sunday’s complete-game victory and also would be a strong candidate to start.

“I think it would be stupid to say no to that. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Skenes said about the possibility of being asked to start by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I didn’t make plans over the All-Star break or anything. So, yeah, I’m super stoked.”

Kershaw has made one All-Star start in his career, in 2022 at Dodger Stadium.

Among standout players not selected were New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto, who signed a $765 million contract as a free agent in the offseason, and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who had made eight consecutive All-Star rosters since 2016.

Soto got off to a slow start but was the National League Player of the Month in June and entered Sunday ranked sixth in the NL in WAR among position players while ranking second in OBP, eighth in OPS and third in runs scored.

The players vote for the reserves at each position and selected Wood, Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres as the backup outfielders. Kyle Stowers also made it as a backup outfielder as the representative for the Miami Marlins.

Unless Soto later is added as an injury replacement, he’ll miss his first All-Star Game since his first full season in 2019.

The Dodgers lead all teams with five representatives: Kershaw, Yamamoto and starters Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. The AL-leading Detroit Tigers (57-34) and Mariners have four each.

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will join AL starters Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres and Javier Baez, while Raleigh, the AL’s starting catcher, will be joined by Seattle teammates Bryan Woo, Andres Munoz and Julio Rodriguez.

Earning his fifth career selection but first since 2021 is Texas Rangers righty Jacob deGrom, who is finally healthy after making only nine starts in his first two seasons with the Rangers and is 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA. He has never started an All-Star Game, although Skubal or Brown would be the favorite to start for the AL.

The hometown Braves will have three All-Stars in Acuna, pitcher Chris Sale (his ninth selection, tied with Freeman for the second most behind Kershaw) and first baseman Matt Olson. The San Francisco Giants had three pitchers selected: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and reliever Randy Rodriguez.

The slumping New York Yankees ended up with three All-Stars: Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Max Fried. The Mets also earned three All-Star selections: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz.

“Red carpet, that’s my thing,” Chisholm said. “I do have a ‘fit in mind.”

Rosters are expanded from 26 to 32 for the All-Star Game. They include starters elected by fans, 17 players (five starting pitchers, three relievers and a backup for each position) chosen in a player vote and six players (four pitchers and two position players) selected by league officials. Every club must be represented.

Acuna, Wood and Raleigh are the three All-Stars who have so far committed to participating in the Home Run Derby.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bellinger rescues Yankees to avoid Subway sweep

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Bellinger rescues Yankees to avoid Subway sweep

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees were seemingly in deep trouble Sunday when Juan Soto cracked a pitch to left field in the seventh inning.

The New York Mets, down two runs, were cooking up a rally with no outs. Francisco Lindor stood at first base, Pete Alonso loomed on deck, and Brandon Nimmo was in the hole. This was the heart of the Mets’ potent lineup. Given the Yankees’ recent woes, fumbling their two-run lead and suffering a Subway Series sweep at the hands of their neighbors — and a seventh straight loss — seemed almost fated.

Then Cody Bellinger charged Soto’s sinking 105 mph line drive, made a shoestring catch and fired a strike to first base for an improbable double play to secure a skid-snapping 6-4 win — and perhaps rescue the Yankees from another dreadful outcome.

“Considering the context of this week and everything,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “that’s probably our play of the year so far.”

Soto’s line drive off Mark Leiter Jr. had a 10% catch probability, according to Statcast, but Bellinger, a plus defender at multiple positions who started at first base Saturday, was just able to snatch it before it touched the grass. Certain that he caught it clean, he made an 89.9 mph toss that reached first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a line, over Lindor, who didn’t slide into the bag.

“I saw it in the air and had a really good beat on it,” said Bellinger, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk at the plate.

The Mets challenged the catch, but the call stood.

“That was incredible,” said Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, who swatted his 33rd home run of the season in the fifth inning. “I’ve never seen something like that on the field.”

For the past week, a stretch Boone described as “terrible” for his ballclub, poor defense has been an issue for the Yankees. Physical errors. Mental lapses. Near disasters. The sloppiness helped sink a depleted pitching staff, more than offsetting the offense’s strong production.

That combination produced the team’s second six-game losing streak in three weeks and a three-game deficit in the American League East standings behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.

The surging Blue Jays won again Sunday to extend their winning streak to seven games and keep their division lead at three games, but Bellinger’s glove and arm ensured it didn’t grow to four.

“That was an unbelievable play,” Goldschmidt said. “Amazing catch and absolute cannon to me at first. To make that play was a game-changing play and potentially game-winning play for us today. And we needed it.”

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