What's the San Diego Padres dream lineup for 2022?

What’s the San Diego Padres dream lineup for 2022?

Sep 4, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) is congratulated by catcher Austin Nola (right) after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 24, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) reacts as he crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run off the second pitch of the game from Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Fernando Tatis, Jr. would slot into the three spot for the San Diego Padres

When healthy, Fernando Tatis, Jr. is the best player on the San Diego Padres and one of the best players in baseball. He primarily hit second in the Padres lineup, but he put up the worst numbers there. He was best as a cleanup man and, with his power, he should be in the power spots.

He hasn’t hit third in the lineup often but he will do well in the spot and the man in the cleanup spot has played much better in that spot rather than the third spot.

Defensively, the numbers say that he is not great at shortstop but with Machado to his right and Cronenworth to his left, Tatis’s defense will be fine.

Hitting cleanup for the San Diego Padres, the third baseman Manny Machado

Manny Machado was primarily the third place hitter for the San Diego Padres in 2021, but that was the position in which he performed the worst.

He did start 39 games in the cleanup spot in 2021 and he hit .333/.400/.638 with 11 of his 28 homers. Outside of 2021, he has little experience in the four-spot but the Padres should keep using him there to see how he plays.

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