Manny Machado‘s career has gone through several ups and downs, but at the end of the ride, the third baseman is on track to be an MLB Hall-of-Famer. 

At one point in his career, Manny Machado was labeled a villain throughout Major League Baseball.

There may still be ill will with some franchises, but generally, the third baseman is highly regarded around the league.

That took a lot of work, and Machado deserves a ton of praise for his growth in the game. His resurgence in popularity did not happen by chance. Machado is mentoring young players, becoming a strong leader, and, most importantly, playing the game every day and producing.

The 32-year-old is the all-time home run leader for the San Diego Padres. He currently has 351 homers for his career and an excellent shot at achieving 500 for his career. Only 28 men in the history of the game have totaled 500 homers in their careers. Machado was the 10th third baseman in history to reach 350 home runs (minimum 50% games played at 3b) and will go down as one of the best to have ever played the position.

With 1,972 hits, the right-handed slugger will surpass 2,000 hits this summer. He has an excellent chance to record 3,000 hits in his career and may be one of the last to accomplish this feat. At the age of 32, Machado would only need to average around 110-115 hits per season through the 2033 season when his deal ends with the Padres at the age of 40. That is realistic. He is averaging 156.4 hits per season in his five full seasons with the club. There are 33 members of the 3,000 hits club. Eclipsing 3,000 hits will surely put Machado in the Hall.

With continued health, Machado will eclipse these numbers above before his contract expires with the Padres.

He is an MLB Hall-of-Famer. There is no doubt.

If you need convincing, let’s explore why Machado will go down as one of the best in the game at the hot corner.

Iron man

Manny Machado hates to miss games. He simply will not come out of the lineup if he has a nagging injury. Longevity in the game of baseball is rewarded, as Machado will simply have excellent numbers when his long career is over. He plays often and keeps himself in fantastic shape. That is rare in this day and age, when players seem always to pull up lame. Injuries have derailed the careers of some promising young athletes. But not Manny Machado.

Since signing with the Padres, Machado has played in 150 games in four out of the five years (not counting 2020). The only season he played in fewer games was 2023 (138 games) as Machado battled through elbow issues. He was able to hit throughout the season but could not take the field for the Padres. Ultimately, the pain caused him to miss multiple games, and he underwent surgery in the winter of 2023 to repair a torn elbow tendon.

The fact that Machado muscled through the pain to play in the majority of the game that season speaks to his commitment to the team. He flat-out refuses to take time off for major injuries, let alone the nagging stuff that can keep some “softer” players out of the lineup when the grind of a season catches up to you. The players respect that kind of commitment to the team. Even the ones who do not play with Machado on a daily basis in San Diego. Those around the game also respect that aspect to Machado’s game. He is a ball player in every sense of the word.

Embracing City

Since his arrival in San Diego, Manny Machado has been at the forefront of several community affairs. Unlike some of the large signings of the past for the Padres, Machado instantly embraced the city and adopted San Diego. For Padres fans, this was a huge step in loving the athlete. Most were unsure what to expect from Machado, who came in with a bad boy image, but he has been a pleasure to watch in America’s Finest City. Machado is loved in San Diego. He is a San Diegan (in an honorary sense).

Manny Machado is a partial owner in the San Diego FC, the new MLS team in town. He took his Padres’ teammates to a game earlier in the season and built instant chemistry in the clubhouse. Seeing the Padres supporting another team in the city is a beautiful thing. San Diegans are known for their loyalty, and Machado is representing the city to the highest standards.

Last season, Machado was recognized as a Roberto Clemente Award representative for the Padres. “It’s representative of him being a Roberto Clemente Award nominee, and I expect him to win it. I get the privilege of seeing him, along with our players, behind the scenes do some really special things for young people, our community,” Mike Shildt said about his recognition. Giving to the community only enhances the resume of a prospective Hall of Famer. It also helps soften the image that Machado once possessed.

Producing and Longevity

Players who produce and do so for a sustained time are usually recognized as Hall-of-Famers. Nick Lee, of EVT, tweeted out this stat about Machado. Only four players in the history of the game (Mike Schmidt, Chipper Jones, Adrian Beltre, and Graig Nettles) have achieved 350+ homers, 2,000 hits, and 60+ WAR. Nettles is the only one of the four who is not presently in the Hall of Fame. Machado is still in the prime of his career and will build on his numbers. His skill level is a rarity, and again, he is still playing.

“Nothing surprises me about Manny Machado,” said Shildt. “But I don’t want to take it for granted either. Sometimes with guys like Manny, they play well, and the reaction is ‘Yeah, they’re supposed to play well.’  Shildt said about Machado. The manager realizes that Machado is about as steady as it gets in the game, and the Padres are lucky to have him at third base. Not too long ago, there was a turnstile of third baseman manning the position for San Diego.

At the current pace Machado is on, there is no doubt he will be enshrined one day. But for Machado, a World Series ring is what he chases now. “I definitely want to be in a place where I can win long-term and be a part of World Series teams for many years to come,” Machado stated before signing with the Padres in free agency. He found a place where nothing less than a World Series title is the goal. There are players around him who are perennial all-stars, and the team is competitive. He couldn’t ask for anything more to keep flourishing.

Hustle

This will always be the largest knock-on Machado’s skill level on the baseball diamond. Machado plays the game with ease. Early in his career, his flawless movements on the baseball diamond were categorized as laziness. The flips he makes from third base are not the prototypical way the game is taught, but they are effective. His cannon-like arm is usually on point to first base as Machado makes throws across the diamond look easy.

Though he may not run out every ground ball, when the game is on the line, he will put it into another gear. Machado has eight steals this year and 107 in his career. He is a smart base runner and picks his moments to excel and show “hustle” on the diamond. One could never accuse Machado of not hustling when attempting to catch a foul ball down the left field line. He makes acrobatic play after play at that angle and continually shows his value in ways that cannot be recognized on a stat sheet. Unfortunately, people will always point to his half-hearted strolls down to first on a routine ground ball.

Let’s not mistake Machado for Pete Rose or Eric Owens. His game is not to play full throttle. He does not throw his body around the diamond recklessly.  “He nor I nor anyone would profess to be perfect, but Manny has made some strides that are very impressive both on and off the field. It’s been a privilege to witness that,” Shildt said. The manager recognizes the growth in Machado and loves what he is seeing. Machado may not “hustle’ all the time, but there are few players you’d rather have on your squad when the season is on the line.

The Future

The next player inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame as a San Diego Padre will be Manny Machado. This is a true statement.

When it is all said and done, his numbers will equate to a career worth recognition. The Padres are well-positioned to sustain productivity and competitiveness for an extended period. Machado will be front and center as the team continues to advance in the league. He is one of the faces of the team and should age like fine wine in San Diego. The power stroke remains present, even after a slow start in 2025. The third baseman is one of the best sluggers in the league.

The analytics suggest that though Machado has a “long swing”, his timing is impeccable, and he makes enough contact to be a productive hitter well into his late 30s. The Padres will enjoy his bat in the middle of the lineup for the next eight seasons. He could ultimately change position to first base down the line, but still has cat-like instincts at the hot corner. The sky is still the limit for Manny Machado. He will continue to produce and further cement his legacy as a Padres legend.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.