Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres looks on in the ninth inning during Game 3 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field on Thursday, October 8, 2020 in Arlington, Texas.
Kelly Gavin | Major League Baseball | Getty Images
One of the most exciting young players in Major League Baseball has joined Gatorade’s roster.
San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. agreed to an endorsement deal with Gatorade and will promote its Bolt24 drink in new advertisement campaigns starting this month.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Tatis Jr. explained why Gatorade’s deal aligned better with his brand than other sports drink competitors.
“Just the history that they’ve been a part of,” Tatis Jr. said of the Pepsi-owned company. “Joining the family, Michael Jordan and all those big names, the brand speaks for itself. It’s just great all the way around. I feel like it will benefit everybody all the way around.”
Gatorade has been on a shopping spree lately, aligning itself with younger and more marketable stars of professional teams. The company also signed National Basketball Association superstar Damian Lillard on Dec. 4. PGA Tour’s Matthew Wolff also signed with Gatorade and will promote the Bolt24 line.
In Tatis Jr., 21, Gatorade landed a dynamic young player with superstar potential. Tatis Jr. finished fourth in the National League MVP race in MLB’s shortened 2020 season, recording 17 home runs (tied for fourth), 45 RBIs (eighth) and 50 runs (second).
In August, he made the headlines for his decision to bypass a traditional but unwritten rule – swinging at a pitch though up 3-0 in the count with the bases loaded. The move resulted in a grand slam.
Tatis Jr., whose father Fernando Tatis Sr. played 11 years in the MLB, including three with the New York Mets, explained his mindset while playing, saying: “I feel like I’m the same kid playing at home in the backyard with his friends and having a great time. Obviously, the game is professional, but still, I feel like you can take care of business and have a great time at the same time.”
Jeff Kearney, Gatorade’s Global Head of Sports Marketing, said Tatis’ signing is similar to another star shortstop – Derek Jeter. The New York Yankees legend is also a long-time Gatorade endorser.
“Jeter had such swagger,” Kearney said. “Walking on the diamond, you just knew he was somebody, and if you didn’t know who he was, you knew he was important. I think Tatis brings that.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres dives to cut off a ball hit by Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (not pictured) during the third inning in Game Three of the National League Division Series at Globe Life Field on October 08, 2020 in Arlington, Texas.
Tom Pennington | Getty Images
Said Tatis of Jeter: “The thing I like about him is how he managed himself. How everybody respects him and how at the end of his career, one of the things that touched me is how he retired, an eternal captain of his team.”
Tatis said he wants his game to be a mixture of Hanley Ramirez, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Jeter.
“He certainly has all the attributes,” added Kearney. “The drive, the skills, the passion for the game. We hope to be somebody who adds value to what he hopes to do on the baseball field.”
The Padres have made it known they’d like to sign their young star to a long-term deal, which will more than likely exceed $100 million. And at Tatis Jr’s age, it could be the first of two mega-deals in his career.
Said Tatis Jr. when asked about ending his career in San Diego: “I love that city. I would love to stay there. It’s the city that brought me up”
On the Bolt24 front, Kearney didn’t dive into specific sales projections or revenue, adhering to the company’s quiet period. Kearney did say the line, launched in 2019, is “gaining momentum.”
“It’s gained enough traction, and I think we’re excited to see it expand its shelf space,” he said. “We’re very bullish on where it’s going to go 2021.”
