Mar 11, 2025; Peoria, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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WATCH: Fernando Tatis Jr. takes 95mph fastball to the head in frightening scene

A scary moment in Arizona!

San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. endured a rather terrifying moment during Friday night’s spring training game when a 95mph fastball drilled him in the head.

Fernando Tatis got hit in the helmet by a 95 MPH fastball https://t.co/0VCF8d3LCY
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 15, 2025

Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker lost control of the pitch, striking Tatis Jr. on the side of his helmet and sending him to the ground. The crowd at Peoria Stadium fell silent as he lay there, but after a tense few moments, he was able to get back on his feet and remain in the game.

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Later, in an unsettling déjà vu, another errant pitch, this time from Dane Dunning, came dangerously close to hitting Tatis Jr. again. Fortunately, he managed to dodge it at the last second.

The Rangers throw near Tatis’ head again https://t.co/EO6zbt21bP pic.twitter.com/jn5bIfPRY2
— Al Scott (@AlScott1998) March 15, 2025

Despite the close calls, Tatis Jr. shook off the incidents and played a key role in the Padres’ thrilling 9-8 victory. However, San Diego fans were less forgiving, frustrated by the Rangers’ back-to-back near-misses on their star outfielder.

After missing the 2022 season because of injury and a PED suspension, Fernando Tatis Jr. had a gold glove season in 2023 and an All-Star season in 2024 and has shown promising signs in spring training too.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

San Diego Padres

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.