We’re still reeling from the electric Padres-Dodgers series that just wrapped up. That was a showdown of everything from bench-clearing drama to high-velocity hit-by-pitches. It was baseball at its most intense, and at the center of the storm stood Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. The defining moment? Dodgers reliever Jack Little drilling Tatis on the right hand with a 93 mph fastball.

It was an incident that sent ripples through both dugouts and reignited the fierce rivalry between these two NL West powerhouses.

And, we know how Tatis doesn’t miss a chance to take a jab at the Dodgers. “Definitely not Dodger Stadium,” he said when asked about his favorite stadiums to play in MLB a few days ago. He is definitely not in a truce with the Dodgers, but what does Tatis think about Shohei Ohtani?

Well, both were hit by pitches in the Padres-Dodgers series, but neither got caught up in the verbal fireworks. Still, when you’re wearing a Padres jersey, talking about the Dodgers demands caution, and the same goes the other way around.

But Tatis didn’t choose silence. Instead, he took a twisted route when asked who’s the best player in MLB right now. “I feel like that’s a really obvious question. He’s my rival, I’m not gonna mention his name… 17 for the blue team,” he said.

Well, he was obviously talking about Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ designated hitter and three-time MVP. And honestly, Ohtani’s numbers back it up. The Japanese ace is hitting .276 and is currently leading the NL with 32 home runs with 60 RBIs. Yes, Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh are contending with him as far as hitting is concerned, but when it comes to two-way playing, everyone knows who takes the lead.

Notably, on Saturday, Ohtani took the mound as the Dodgers’ opener for the fifth time this season and is currently sitting with a 1.0 ERA and 10 SOs! That’s pretty remarkable considering he didn’t pitch at all in 2024. But while Tatis rightly acknowledged Ohtani’s greatness, the fact that he acknowledged it raised a few eyebrows, given his long history with the Dodgers.

Fernando Tatis Jr. has a history with the Dodgers

Tatis’ history with the Dodgers is marked by emotional outbursts, and plenty of drama. As a key piece of the Padres’ core, he has been in the thick of one of MLB’s most intense modern rivalries.

It all started heating up around 2020 and 2021, when both the Padres and Dodgers were loaded with talent and postseason ambitions. Tatis often rose to the occasion against LA, hitting clutch home runs and celebrating them with flair.

Remember when he covered one eye to troll Trevor Bauer of the Dodgers? Tatis has always loved to take the fight to the rival.

Even during his 2022 suspension and 2023 comeback, Tatis’ energy never died down. Fans have fueled this rivalry as well, with the Dodger Stadium often raining boos on him. “Everybody knows Dodgers fans. It’s part of the circus,” Tatis even called them out a few days ago.

But despite the heat, there’s also mutual respect there. Tatis knows how good the Dodgers are and like a true sportsman, he acknowledged Ohtani’s greatness. While the Padres-Dodgers rivalry continues to evolve, Tatis remains one of its most compelling figures. He’s flashy, fearless, and never the one to back down.