Padres’ Manny Machado Reaches 2,000 Career Hits Milestone/ Newslooka/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Manny Machado collected his 2,000th career hit Monday night with the San Diego Padres against Arizona. Despite the milestone, the Padres fell 6-3 to the Diamondbacks. Machado is now one of just 12 players to notch 350 home runs and 2,000 hits before age 32.
Manny Machado 2,000 Hits Quick Looks
- Machado hits 2,000th career hit vs. Arizona
- Padres star also belts 357th career homer
- Becomes 5th active player with 2,000 hits
- Receives standing ovation at Petco Park
- Padres lose 6-3 despite milestone night
- Machado started career with Baltimore Orioles in 2012
Deep Look
Manny Machado Hits 2,000th Career Hit, Cementing Status Among MLB’s Elite
SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres star Manny Machado added his name to baseball’s history books Monday night, recording his 2,000th career hit with a sharp single off Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen during a game at Petco Park.
Machado’s milestone came leading off the fourth inning when he sent a hard grounder glancing off the glove of diving shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. The crowd in San Diego roared with a standing ovation as Machado, a fan favorite since arriving in 2019, tipped his helmet in appreciation.
“Doing it in front of the home crowd definitely is a lot better, and hopefully there’s more,” Machado said after the Padres’ 6-3 loss to Arizona.
Three Hits and a Homer for Machado
Earlier in the game, Machado singled to left field in the first inning for his 1,999th career hit. He later capped his performance by launching his 15th home run of the season and 357th of his career, a solo shot off reliever Kyle Backhus in the eighth inning.
Although his milestone night was individually impressive, the Padres couldn’t overcome the Diamondbacks, who secured a 6-3 victory.
“It’s special and an honor to be a part of that list,” Machado said about his milestone. “Definitely would have wanted the victory, but stepping away from that, it’s pretty cool.”
Padres manager Mike Shildt praised his veteran slugger. “Wow, literally hats off. What an accomplishment,” Shildt said. “We’re happy for it. He earned it.”
Elite Company for Machado
Machado became the fifth active MLB player and the 297th player in baseball history to reach 2,000 hits. Even more exclusive, he’s now one of just 12 players in league history to tally at least 350 home runs and 2,000 hits before turning 32—a testament to both his power and consistency over 13 seasons.
Machado, 32, made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Baltimore Orioles, racking up 977 hits before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 18, 2018. He collected 73 hits during his brief stint with the Dodgers before signing a major free-agent deal with the Padres on Feb. 21, 2019.
Since joining San Diego, Machado has amassed 950 hits, ranking fifth on the Padres’ all-time list. Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn remains the franchise leader with an iconic 3,141 hits across his 20-year career.
Adding to his decorated résumé, Machado was voted the starting third baseman for the National League in this year’s All-Star Game, further solidifying his status as one of baseball’s premier talents.
As Padres fans celebrated a new chapter in Machado’s stellar career, the slugger’s sights remain set on chasing even greater milestones in the seasons to come.
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