Manny Machado made history on Monday night in San Diego by reaching a significant career milestone with his 2,000th hit during a matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks, though it ultimately ended in a 6-3 loss for the Padres. The milestone hit came in the fourth inning when Machado connected with a single against Zac Gallen, just making it past shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and into left field, sparking a warm ovation from the fans at Petco Park.
Leading into the game, Machado needed only two hits to reach the milestone. He started strong with a single in the first inning and later celebrated his historic moment by hitting a solo home run in the eighth, bringing his career total to 357 home runs.
With this achievement, Machado became the fifth active Major League Baseball player to reach 2,000 hits, positioning himself as the 297th player in the league’s history to achieve the feat. He also stands out as one of only 12 players to record both 2,000 hits and 350 home runs by the end of their age-32 season. Since signing with the Padres in 2019, he has accumulated 950 hits with the franchise, placing him fifth on their all-time hits list. Before joining the Padres, he debuted with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, amassing 997 hits, and later played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In context, Machado joins an elite group of players, including current hits leader Freddie Freeman, who boasts 2,357 career hits. Other active players surpassing the 2,000-hit milestone include Jose Altuve, Andrew McCutchen, and Paul Goldschmidt.
Despite Machado’s strong performance, with a 3-for-5 batting stat in the game, the Padres were unable to secure a win, marking their third loss in the last five games and leaving them with a season record of 48-42.
Overall, Machado’s accomplishment is not only a personal victory but also a historic moment in baseball, emphasizing his talent and dedication to the sport. Fans can remain hopeful as he continues to contribute significantly to the Padres, and it serves as an inspiration for future players aiming for greatness in their careers.