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One of the most electrifying players in the big leagues is opting out of the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby. San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr is putting his health first and has chosen not to participate in the prestigious competition due to a recovering shoulder injury, per the Athletic's Dennis Lin:
Citing the health of his shoulder and the Padres’ postseason hopes, Fernando Tatis Jr. has decided not to participate in the Home Run Derby. He said he plans to be a future multi-time participant.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) June 25, 2021
This is definitely disappointing for baseball fans, though. Seeing Fernando Tatis Jr launch balls into orbit in Denver of all places would've been a sight for sore eyes. As of right now, Shohei Ohtani and Pete Alonso are the only participants, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr also deciding to skip the derby.
Tatis Jr suffered a shoulder injury in early April that certainly gave the Padres a scare but thankfully, he was only put on the 10-day injured list. The shortstop then exited Saturday's game early after reaggravating that same shoulder while trying to dive for a ball. Fernando Tatis Jr did return to the San Diego lineup on Monday, though.
This is definitely a smart decision on his part. The Padres need their best player healthy for what they hope will be a busy postseason. The 22-year-old is currently enjoying another solid campaign, hitting .281 with 22 home runs and 50 RBI's.
Fernando Tatis Jr will have many more opportunities to be in the MLB Home Run Derby. No big deal.
