Manny Machado
A name that every baseball fan should know
By: Caleb Odom
Lost in the shuffle of offseason moves and Spring Training hype is the 20-year-old third baseman who made some noise last season for the Baltimore Orioles. Manny Machado, from Miami, Fla. is below the radar for the average baseball fan but the upcoming season just might be the Oriole infielder's coming out party.
Last season, Baltimore's defense from Opening Day through the end of July was the worst in baseball but when the minor league shortstop Manny Machado was called up to the majors on August 1 everything changed. The Orioles defense became the best in the bigs and Machado was shocking the world with his slick glove at the hot corner and with his bat.
Machado started in all 51 of the games he played in and made just five errors while playing third base. The young big leaguer racked up 50 hits during that time, seven of which were home runs. When Baltimore made the playoffs beating the Rangers in the one game Wild Card game Machado was suddenly thrust into the American League Division Series with all eyes on the games.
The ALDS between the Orioles and the New York Yankees went five games with Machado drawing some national attention with his home run and double in the series. Baltimore would be eliminated by New York but the Orioles were a scary team nonetheless. People who watched Baltimore and its kid third basemen were watching what just might be a future superstar for the Orioles.
Just like Bryce Harper and Mike Trout last season Machado is all upside for the game of baseball. The 20-year-old has all the potential to be the next great face of the franchise, like Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. Machado is still a relative unknown, evidenced by the coverage of the media. Not much has been said of the budding star in Baltimore.
So when June rolls around and everybody is talking about number 13 for the Orioles, Manny Machado you can tell me I told you so. And when Machado is in Flushing, NY for the Allstar Game you can remember that I called it back before the season even started. And when Machado is pushing the Orioles past the Blue Jays that are supposed to be so good in the month of September when the games count the most you can remember what I told you.
The lesson of the story? If you don't know who Manny Machado is yet you are behind the game because he is about to make the game try to catch up with him. Yes Mike Trout is a freak of nature but Machado is that guy you didn't see coming until he is here to stay and he explodes just like his team around him.
Last season, Baltimore's defense from Opening Day through the end of July was the worst in baseball but when the minor league shortstop Manny Machado was called up to the majors on August 1 everything changed. The Orioles defense became the best in the bigs and Machado was shocking the world with his slick glove at the hot corner and with his bat.
Machado started in all 51 of the games he played in and made just five errors while playing third base. The young big leaguer racked up 50 hits during that time, seven of which were home runs. When Baltimore made the playoffs beating the Rangers in the one game Wild Card game Machado was suddenly thrust into the American League Division Series with all eyes on the games.
The ALDS between the Orioles and the New York Yankees went five games with Machado drawing some national attention with his home run and double in the series. Baltimore would be eliminated by New York but the Orioles were a scary team nonetheless. People who watched Baltimore and its kid third basemen were watching what just might be a future superstar for the Orioles.
Just like Bryce Harper and Mike Trout last season Machado is all upside for the game of baseball. The 20-year-old has all the potential to be the next great face of the franchise, like Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. Machado is still a relative unknown, evidenced by the coverage of the media. Not much has been said of the budding star in Baltimore.
So when June rolls around and everybody is talking about number 13 for the Orioles, Manny Machado you can tell me I told you so. And when Machado is in Flushing, NY for the Allstar Game you can remember that I called it back before the season even started. And when Machado is pushing the Orioles past the Blue Jays that are supposed to be so good in the month of September when the games count the most you can remember what I told you.
The lesson of the story? If you don't know who Manny Machado is yet you are behind the game because he is about to make the game try to catch up with him. Yes Mike Trout is a freak of nature but Machado is that guy you didn't see coming until he is here to stay and he explodes just like his team around him.
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