SAN DIEGO — For Fernando Tatis Jr., baseball's purest form occurs back home, in the Dominican Republic, within the raucous stadiums and the tense environments unique to what is colloquially known as winter ball.
Tatis plays there any chance he gets, even in years when Major League Baseball's arduous season tires his body. It brings him joy.
In some ways, Tatis has often expressed, it gives him life. And so perhaps it's no surprise that Tatis has starred in his first true playoff experience.
The electricity from it has empowered him. «I feed off that type of energy,» Tatis said after he helped lift his San Diego Padres to a 6-5 Game 3 victory and 2-1 lead over the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. «When the fans are coming, meaningful games, leave everything that you have out there — I just feel like I take it to another level.