{"id":121976,"date":"2026-05-16T00:17:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T04:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=121976"},"modified":"2026-05-16T00:17:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T04:17:18","slug":"padres-manny-machado-slump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/05\/16\/padres-manny-machado-slump\/","title":{"rendered":"Amid Historic Slump, Padres Veteran Star Needs to Right the Ship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manny Machado<\/a> has been one of the most consistent players in MLB since his 2012 debut. He’s rehabilitated an image from his younger days that cast him as a dirty player, becoming a clubhouse leader for the San Diego Padres. Since his debut, Machado has only posted three seasons in which he slugged less than 15 home runs (2012, 2013, 2014) and batted below .260 (2017, 2019, 2023).<\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Strengthening his Hall of Fame case, Machado reached the 2,000 hit milestone. He’s one of just five active players who have achieved the feat. He’s on pace to reach 3,000 career hits and 500 career homers. Both are elusive in the majors, with only seven players ever achieving both feats. That list is made up of Hank Aaron<\/a>, Albert Pujols<\/a>, Willie Mays<\/a>, Eddie Murray<\/a>, Miguel Cabrera<\/a>, Alex Rodriguez<\/a>, and Rafael Palmeiro<\/a>. It’s a list that essentially certifies Hall of Fame status (that is, without any mitigating circumstances, like with the latter two).<\/p>\n

Can Manny Machado Become a Productive Hitter Again?<\/h2>\n

Machado’s contract with the Padres<\/a> ends in 2033. To reach the 3,000-hit, 500-homer milestone, the third baseman doesn’t even need to do all that much to get there. To reach the hits milestone, Machado only needs to bat .200 over his final seven years (600 at-bats per season). The home run milestone is a little more difficult, though not by much. Machado needs to slug 15 home runs per year to reach the 500-homer plateau. The fact that he doesn’t need all that much to reach those milestones speaks to the incredible career Machado has had.<\/p>\n

An Uncharacteristic Year<\/h2>\n

Machado is in the midst of what seems like the worst season of his career. That’s not entirely true, but it definitely feels that way. He has a .190\/.287\/.340 slash line entering play on Friday. That doesn’t look very good, but Machado is on pace for 23 home runs and 75 RBI. He is on pace for 114 hits, which would be a career low across a full season. He has been a part of what has been a rough start for the Padres’ offense<\/a>, particularly the star trio of Machado, Jackson Merrill<\/a>, and Fernando Tatis Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Machado with his 6th of the year for the @Padres<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/UZdobyQq46<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 10, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n