Manny Machado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manny Machado |
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Machado with the San Diego Padres in 2021
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| San Diego Padres – No. 13 | |||
| Third baseman / Shortstop | |||
| Born: July 6, 1992 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 9, 2012, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .279 | ||
| Hits | 1,900 | ||
| Home runs | 342 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,049 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Manuel Arturo Machado (born July 6, 1992) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as a third baseman and shortstop for the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball (MLB). Manny, as he is often called, was a highly sought-after player from a young age. He grew up in Miami, Florida. The Baltimore Orioles picked him third overall in the 2010 MLB draft. He hits and throws with his right hand. He has also played for the Dominican Republic national baseball team.
Manny Machado started playing in MLB in August 2012. He had a great year in 2013, becoming an All-Star and leading the league in doubles. He also won a Gold Glove Award for being an excellent fielder. Machado won another Gold Glove in 2015 and was an All-Star many times. People often compare his defensive skills to Brooks Robinson, a famous Orioles third baseman. In 2018, Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and helped them reach the World Series. After that season, he signed a very big contract with the Padres. He is now the Padres' all-time leader in home runs.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Manny Machado was born and grew up in Miami, Florida. His mother, Rosa Machado, his grandfather, Francisco Nunez, and his uncle, Geovanny Brito, raised him. His family comes from the Dominican Republic. Manny grew up with Albert Almora, another baseball player, and they consider each other like cousins.
He went to Brito Miami Private School and planned to go to Florida International University. As a kid, he was a big fan of the Miami Marlins baseball team.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The Baltimore Orioles chose Manny Machado as the third overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft. He was one of the top high school players chosen that year. He signed his first professional contract just before the deadline. Before joining the Orioles, he played for the USA Baseball 18-and-under national team.
Manny started his professional journey in the minor leagues. He played for teams like the Gulf Coast League Orioles and the Aberdeen IronBirds. He hit his first professional home run in his second game. He quickly showed his talent, earning promotions to higher minor league levels.
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles (2012–2018)
First MLB Season (2012)
The Orioles brought Machado up to the MLB team on August 9, 2012. He played third base, even though he was a natural shortstop. Just a few days later, he hit his first two career home runs in one game. This made him one of the youngest players in MLB history to hit two homers in a single game. He also hit a home run in the playoffs that year.
In his first MLB season, Manny played in 51 games. He hit .262 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, and 26 RBIs.
Breakout Year (2013)
In 2013, Machado had an amazing year. He set a major league record for the most games with multiple hits before turning 21. He also led the major leagues in doubles for a while.
On June 27, 2013, he was sent out of the game by the umpire for arguing a call. This was his first time being ejected from an MLB game.
Manny was chosen as an All-Star in 2013. Later in the season, he hurt his left knee while running to first base. This injury ended his season early. He finished the year with 14 home runs, 71 RBIs, and led the American League with 51 doubles.
After the season, he had surgery on his knee to help it heal. In October, he won the Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense at third base. He also won the AL Platinum Glove Award, which goes to the best defensive player in the league.
Dealing with Injuries (2014)
Manny returned from his knee surgery in April 2014. He hit his first career grand slam in June.
During the season, he was involved in some disagreements on the field with players from the Oakland Athletics. This led to a five-game suspension. In August, he injured his right knee, which required surgery and ended his season early again.
Playing Every Game (2015)
Machado started the 2015 season healthy. He was named to the American League All-Star team and took part in the Home Run Derby. He played in all 162 games that season, which is very rare for a player.
He had a great year, batting .286 with 35 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. He won his second career Gold Glove for his amazing defense at third base. He set new personal bests in many areas, including home runs and RBIs.
Career Highs and More All-Star Games (2016)
Machado started 2016 with a 16-game hitting streak. He was named the AL Player of the Month for April. In June, he had a disagreement with a pitcher from the Kansas City Royals, which led to a four-game suspension.
He was chosen for his third All-Star game and was a starter for the first time. On August 7, he made history by hitting a home run in each of the first three innings of a game. He also hit his 100th career home run, becoming one of the youngest Orioles to reach that milestone.
Manny had an incredible season, hitting a career-high 37 home runs and driving in 96 runs. He also hit three grand slams that year.
More Grand Slams (2017)
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In 2017, Machado continued to hit powerful home runs. He became the first Oriole to have 270 extra-base hits before turning 25.
There were some heated moments with the Boston Red Sox during the season, leading to discussions about how players should act on the field.
In August, Machado hit two grand slams in one week. One of them was a "walk-off" grand slam, meaning it won the game in the final inning. He hit three walk-off home runs in 2017, more than any other MLB player that season. He finished the year with 33 home runs and 95 RBIs.
Back to Shortstop (2018)
In 2018, Machado moved back to his natural position, shortstop. He was playing very well, batting .313 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs, and was named the starting shortstop for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.
Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers (2018)
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On July 18, 2018, Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He chose uniform number 8 because he was a big fan of basketball player Kobe Bryant. He quickly got his 1,000th career hit as a Dodger. In 66 games with the Dodgers, he hit 13 home runs and had 42 RBIs. For the whole 2018 season, combining both teams, he played all 162 games, hitting .297 with 37 home runs and 103 RBIs.
The Dodgers won their division and made it to the World Series. During the playoffs, he had a moment at first base during a game that caused some discussion. The Dodgers lost the World Series to the Boston Red Sox.
Playing for the San Diego Padres (2019–Present)
Machado signed a long-term contract with the San Diego Padres on February 21, 2019. It was one of the biggest contracts in sports history at the time.
First Years with Padres (2019–2021)
In his first year with the Padres (2019), Machado hit 32 home runs and had 85 RBIs.
The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Machado had a fantastic year, batting .304 with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. He finished third in the voting for the National League MVP award.
In 2021, Machado was named to the All-Star Game again. He finished the season with 28 home runs and 106 RBIs.
Recent Seasons (2022–2024)
In 2022, Machado continued to be a star for the Padres. He batted .298 with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs. He finished second in the voting for the National League MVP award.
On February 28, 2023, Machado signed an even longer contract extension with the Padres, keeping him with the team until 2033. In April, he was ejected from a game for arguing a pitch clock violation, which was a new rule. On July 15, he hit his 300th career home run. He finished the 2023 season with 30 home runs and 91 RBIs. After the season, he had surgery on his right elbow.
In 2024, Machado reached another big milestone, hitting his 1,000th career RBI. On September 10, 2024, he became the Padres' all-time home run leader with 164 home runs, breaking the old record. He also won his second career Silver Slugger Award for his hitting.
Playing for His Country
COPABE Pan Am "AAA" Championship (2009)
In 2009, Manny played for the United States 18U team in the COPABE Pan Am "AAA" Championship. His team won the gold medal and qualified for the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championship.
World Baseball Classic (Dominican Republic)
Manny Machado chose to play for the Dominican Republic in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He was nicknamed "El Ministro de la Defensa" (The Minister of Defense) because of his amazing fielding. He was named the most valuable player in the first round of the tournament.
Even though he was born in Florida, Manny decided to play for the Dominican Republic because of his strong family roots there. He said it was important for him to represent his family's heritage.
How Experts See Him
Baseball experts have always praised Manny Machado's skills. Early in his career, an analyst said that if he stayed at shortstop, he could be an All-Star player who was also great at defense. Many people have compared him to famous baseball players like Alex Rodriguez and Cal Ripken Jr. because of his talent at both shortstop and third base. Manny says it's a great honor to be compared to such legends.
Personal Life
In November 2014, Manny Machado married his longtime girlfriend, Yainee Alonso. Her brother, Yonder Alonso, is also a baseball player. During the offseason, they live in Coral Gables, Florida. During the baseball season, they live in Coronado, California. Manny has a dog named Kobe, named after the basketball star Kobe Bryant, whom Manny admired.
Manny is also part of the ownership group for a new soccer team called San Diego FC, which will start playing in 2025.
Images for kids
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Machado during the 2015 season
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- List of Baltimore Orioles awards
- List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of people from Miami
