With the trading deadline quickly approaching and the playoff races heating up, it was easy to overlook the news that came out of Thursday night?s game between the Orioles and Kansas City.
There, Fernando Tatis manned third base for the O?s, representing his first major league start since June 13, 2003. Tatis not only played, but contributed as the 31-year-old had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run in Baltimore?s 6-4 win. Prior to this season, Tatis had not played professional baseball since being released by Tampa Bay during spring training in 2004.
He began his comeback this season after the O?s signed him as a minor league free agent. He played well for Triple-A Ottawa, batting .298 with seven homers and 37 RBI in 90 games before being recalled July 21.
Injuries took their toll on Tatis following a breakout season with St. Louis in 1999 when he batted .298, hit 34 homers and had 107 RBI. In his final season with the Montreal Expos, Tatis batted .194, hit two homers and had 15 RBI in 53 games.
“Sometimes I thought my career was over,” he said. “But, in my mind, I felt I could come back. I?m just glad to be here and healthy. I would like to get back to the player everyone knows.”
