SAN DIEGO — Platinum Glove right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. will make his first career start at second base Saturday night as the San Diego Padres continue cycling through periodic rest days for their veteran position players.

Three days after third baseman Manny Machado received a game off, it is shortstop Xander Bogaerts’ turn to sit, this time against the Colorado Rockies. Second baseman Jake Cronenworth will slide over to short, where he has filled in since last season, and Nick Castellanos will start in right field.

“We’ve been planning this for a little while, giving them a heads-up, trying to figure out a way to get Jake and Xander some days off coming up,” manager Craig Stammen said. “We felt like Tatis was the best option at second base, and the most fun and exciting option at second base.”

Tatis, 27, is among the best athletes and defensive right fielders in baseball. He won Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards in 2023 and 2025. The former shortstop also possesses some experience at second base, having made a late-game appearance there in September 2023 and 10 starts at the position early in his minor-league career.

Stammen, Tatis’ former teammate, raised the idea of occasional returns to second base after he became the team’s manager during the offseason. At the time, Tatis said Saturday, he wasn’t sure if Stammen truly meant it.

“I didn’t take it that serious,” Tatis said, laughing. “But here we are.”

Stammen indicated that the Padres feel the new challenge could provide a secondary benefit. Tatis, a two-time Silver Slugger, is experiencing the worst offensive start of his career. He has logged a .519 OPS through 14 games, even as his underlying statistics suggest a fair amount of poor luck.

“Maybe him concentrating on playing second base unlocks him at the plate, he stops thinking so much about it and just uses his natural talent to take over,” Stammen said. “(Friday) night, he had two more balls that were hit over 100 (mph) and had nothing to show for it. … I think we can tell that he’s getting a little frustrated that none of those hits are falling.”

Tatis occasionally took ground balls at second base last season. Working with infield coaches Ryan Goins and Nick Punto, he started drilling daily last month in preparation for a potential cameo.

“I can play whatever,” Tatis said. “I’m just here to play baseball and be a good baseball player.

“Looking forward to the challenge and embracing it.”

Tatis began his career as a shortstop but has not played there since his 2023 return from multiple arm surgeries and a PED suspension.

“We have a shortstop who is going to be here for a long time,” Stammen said of Bogaerts, who, like Tatis, is under contract well into the next decade. “And not like Jake’s not going to be here for a long time, either. But we feel like Jake did a great job of playing shortstop last season, and whenever Xander needs a day, we feel more comfortable with Croney playing shortstop.”

Tatis will continue as the Padres’ primary right fielder. How often he’ll appear at second base remains to be determined. Saturday is his first audition.

“Will he be perfect, like the best second baseman of all time? He might be, but you never know,” Stammen said. “We’ll see. But I’m not that worried about Fernando Tatis Jr. playing second base.”