Padres third baseman Manny Machado posted a career year in 2022, slashing .298/.366/.531 for a San Diego team that advanced to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 1998.
However, Machado has been unable to return to form so far in ’23. On Wednesday, a frustrating season went from bad to worse, as manager Bob Melvin announced that Machado has sustained a small fracture in his left hand.
Machado exited the Padres’ 4-0 loss to the Royals on Monday after being hit on the left hand with a pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. He missed San Diego’s games on Tuesday and Wednesday, which Kansas City won 5-4 and 4-3.
Melvin told reporters that the team does not believe it will have to put Machado on the injured list.
Further imaging showed a fracture in Manny Machado’s hand.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) May 17, 2023
Bob Melvin said Padres still believe it doesn’t have to be IL situation, but that could change.
Machado is slashing .231/.282/.372 so far this year with five home runs and 19 RBIs. The Padres currently sit in fourth place in the NL West at 20-24, eight games behind the first-place Dodgers.
