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Machado in Hall of Fame company in reaching 2,000 hits
SAN DIEGO — It’s now 2,000 hits and counting for Manny Machado, as he sets a course that seems destined for Cooperstown.
The Padres’ star third baseman became the fifth active player to reach 2,000 hits with his fourth-inning single off D-backs righty Zac Gallen on Monday night during a 6-3 loss in the series opener at Petco Park.
Machado — who also laced a first-inning single for hit No. 1,999, then launched an eighth-inning home run for No. 2,001 — joins Freddie Freeman, Jose Altuve, Andrew McCutchen and Paul Goldschmidt as the only active players with 2,000 hits.
“That’s a lot of hits,” Machado said. “A lot of ups and downs, a lot of struggles. It took a lot to get here. So I’m very grateful for it.”
It has been a year full of milestones for Machado. Last month, he reached the 350-homer mark in San Francisco. Although he celebrated his 33rd birthday on Sunday, he reached both numbers in what’s technically his age-32 season.
In doing so, Machado joined a remarkably exclusive list. Only 11 players in MLB history had reached 350 homers and 2,000 hits in their age-32 season or earlier.
Those 11 players? Eight are Hall of Famers — Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Ken Griffey Jr., Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Mel Ott and Frank Robinson. The other three are Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols (who are not yet eligible) and Alex Rodriguez.
“Definitely, it’s special,” Machado said. “An honor to be part of that list.”
The moment came with Machado leading off in the bottom of the fourth inning. He smacked a hard grounder through the left side, off the glove of D-backs shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. When Machado retreated to first base, the crowd broke into chants of “Man-ny, Man-ny,” and he doffed his helmet.
“I wish it would’ve come a little earlier and maybe not have stressed out a little bit too much,” Machado said. “But it definitely makes it a lot better doing it in front of the home crowd.”
Machado is in the midst of another excellent season — and last week was named the starting third baseman for the National League at the All-Star Game. His 2,000th career hit was also his 100th of the season. He’s batting .293 with 15 homers and an .838 OPS.
Still, as he approached 2,000, Machado fell into a little bit of a slump, after he had been scorching hot for most of June. In his past 10 games entering play Monday, Machado was batting just .179. On Monday, he acknowledged that the potential milestone wore on him a bit.
“It’s hella hard,” Machado said. “Trying to get two over the weekend, or even for a week now, it kind of makes you realize how hard it is and how hard this game is.
“To get one hit in the big leagues, it’s very extremely hard. Let alone, you look up there, and you’ve got 2,000 of them. That, right there, you notice how special it is and how special this game is. It’s pretty cool.”
Machado is the first Padres player to reach the 2,000-hit mark since Mike Piazza in 2006, and he’s the sixth Padre overall. That group also includes Steve Garvey (1983), Graig Nettles (’85), Garry Templeton (’90) and Tony Gwynn (’93).
What comes next? Well, the next major hits milestone is 3,000. Machado has eight years left after this one on his Padres contract. In that span, he’d need to average about 115 hits per season to reach 3,000. Given Machado’s durability, that seems doable.
“That’s the plan,” Machado said. “I’m going to shoot for it. I’ve got a couple more years left here under contract.”
It will be no easy feat, but Machado appears to be on a trajectory to get there. He might also be on a trajectory to be the next player to get there. The other four active players with 2,000-plus hits are all 35 or older.
After 1,825 games across 14 seasons, Machado is now two-thirds of the way there.
And he’s another milestone closer to one day solidifying his place in the Hall of Fame.
