The Padres were abundantly aware Fernando Tatis Jr. has excelled in the lead-off spot and, in fact, had used it as a launching pad the past two seasons in the minor leagues.
Manager Andy Green had been mulling batting Tatis atop the order.
The Padres just wanted him to be comfortable in the majors before they put that on the 20-year-old rookie.
“It’s … something we were cognizant of when the season started,” Green said. “We didn’t have some set plan on when or if we would do it. We knew that his Double-A season took off when they thrust him into that spot, and we knew it was something he’s thrived in.