Tatis: 'I'm 2nd to no one' on baseball field when healthy

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. believes he's the best player in MLB when healthy and mentally feeling right.

"All the respect to all the big-league talent that is out there," Tatis said, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I definitely acknowledge them. But when I'm 100% and my head is in the right spot, I feel like I'm second to no one in the baseball field.

"But definitely knowing what the work takes to be there. And especially the competition that is out there. And definitely embracing (it) because players are so good right now in this time of the baseball era, it only makes you want to be better and get better. So, I'm definitely in that role and looking forward to being the best version of myself out there."

Tatis added that the way he's feeling heading into the 2025 season is similar to when he ended up as a 2021 NL MVP finalist thanks to 42 homers, 97 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and a .975 OPS over 130 games that year.

"I haven't felt this good since the offseason of 2020 coming into 2021," Tatis said. "It feels great. My body is in a great spot, my swing is in an amazing spot. And definitely looking forward to what this year is going to be."

The 26-year-old went deep 21 times with an .833 OPS across 102 contests last season after dealing with a stress reaction in his thigh bone.

The Padres signed Tatis to a 14-year, $340-million contract in February 2021. However, he missed the entire 2022 campaign because of a broken wrist and PED suspension.