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Fernando Tatis Jr. reminded everyone Tuesday night why his name remains synonymous with the most thunderous hits in Major League Baseball. On the field at Truist Park in Atlanta, the Dominican outfielder for the San Diego Padres launched a Reynaldo López offering 474 feet from home plate — nearly 145 meters — setting the longest distance for a home run since the start of the 2026 season. The Padres capitalized on this display to win 8-3 against the Braves.
A historic missile in Atlanta
The projectile came in the fourth inning, with San Diego already leading 2-0.
The projectile came in the fourth inning, with San Diego already leading 2-0. The ball sailed over the left-center field fence before landing far beyond the bullpen, drawing an admiring murmur from the home fans. A Braves spectator, captured by RDS cameras, even raised his arms in respect — a rare gesture in an opposing stadium when the visiting star has just dashed your hopes. This eighth long ball of the season for Tatis produced three runs total, bringing his RBI total to 28 in 2026. The previous season record, at 473 feet, belonged to Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, in this same park.
The resurgence of a slugger
Tatis's 2026 trajectory tells a story of patience rewarded. He had to wait until May 30 and his 56th game to hit his first long ball of the year, a 451-foot blast against the Washington Nationals. Two months later, the mechanics unlocked: seven home runs in eight weeks, a batting average flirting with .280, and this 474-foot peak that eclipses everything else. His personal record remains a 477-foot rocket hit in June 2021 at Coors Field in Denver, a stadium known for favoring hitters due to altitude. The Atlanta performance thus takes on a special flavor: such a distance at sea level, in a park rated neutral for hitters, underscores the purity of contact.
A collective recital by the Padres
The evening did not rest solely on Tatis's shoulders. Manny Machado hit two solo home runs, one in the first inning and another in the sixth. Jackson Merrill, 23, added his 13th long ball of the campaign, confirming a breakout that began in his rookie season in 2025. On the mound, Walker Buehler held up despite five walks issued over 5.2 innings of work. He allowed only two hits and two earned runs to notch a sixth win in eleven decisions. On the other side, Reynaldo López recorded nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings, a flattering ratio that poorly masks the damage: nine hits and five earned runs allowed. His record drops to 4-3.
Playoff race and trade deadline in sight
MLB is entering its most feverish period of the summer. While Tatis electrified Atlanta, the Boston Red Sox strung together a fourteenth consecutive win by defeating the Orioles 6-5 the day before, closing within two games of the franchise record set in 1946. Cade Smith, reliever for the Cleveland Guardians, recorded a 29th save, the best total in the majors this season, in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. The trade deadline, set for August 3, is fast approaching. Several teams — Cubs, Mets, Rangers — are exploring their options to add a pitcher or a complementary hitter before the final stretch. The Padres, for their part, are banking on the rising form of their Dominican superstar to keep believing in the playoffs. With a Tatis capable of setting off 145-meter fireworks any given night, San Diego possesses an asset few teams can claim.