On the rise: Tatis, Guerrero among young stars lifting game

DENVER (AP) — The gold-plated necklace Fernando Tatis Jr. wore for the All-Star festivities was both flashy and eye-catching — just like his game.

The San Diego slugger nicknamed “El Niño" — he wore it proudly on the chain — is certainly a home-run hitting, bat-flipping show of force. Even more, he exudes cool as he becomes the ambassador of fun for the game of baseball.

Talented young stars such as Tatis, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., along with his Toronto teammate Bo Bichette, Juan Soto of Washington, Ozzie Albies of Atlanta and of course pitching/hitting phenom Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels are taking the game by storm. They'll be on full display Tuesday night at the All-Star Game — and can't-miss entertainment.

Ever the showman, Tatis even hinted that, should he go deep, he not only will turn in a memorable bat-flip but grandly shimmy his way down the baseline as well.

Nothing personal to whichever pitcher may surrender that particular long ball, either. Infusing a little fun is just one of his growing roles, along with being the face of it. Those are roles he takes seriously — in a joyful way, that is.

“I do embrace it,” Tatis said Monday before the Home Run Derby. “It's a lot of responsibility that comes with it. But I’m just the same kid trying to have some fun. This game is really, really hard.”

He makes it look oh-so-easy, too. All these generation-next players do. The top three home-run leaders at the All-Star break are all 27 or younger, led by Ohtani with 33. Tatis and Guerrero each have 28 homers.

It's only appropriate for Tatis and Guerrero. The two 22-year-olds are both the sons of major leaguers.

“Together since kids, both sons from big-league parents and now being here, it’s an amazing story,"...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/On-the-rise-Tatis-Guerrero-among-young-stars-16309987.php