Baltimore Orioles’ Manny Machado: One for the future – MLB Player Profile
Manuel Arturo Machado is not your average 20-year-old. Having started his Major League Baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, Machado has impressed one and all with his abilities to deliver in tough conditions within a short span of time.
As a senior, he had an incredible year at Brito High School in Miami, Florida. With 12 home-runs, he ended with an incredible .639 average for the year in 29 games.
He was drafted by the Orioles in 2010 at the last moment for a contract worth $5.25 million. On August 27, 2010 he made his professional debut with Gulf Coast League Orioles, going 0-for-3. Machado played the 2011 season as shortstop with Delmarva Shorebirds.
His bat swung well as he struck five home-runs before May and in the process earning himself the distinction of South Atlantic League (SAL) Player of the Week.
However, knee injury forced him out for several weeks and Machado still managed another 10 games in the season including the SAL All Star Game after which he was promoted to High-A Fredrick Keys.
On August 9, 2012, Machado was promoted to play for the Baltimore Orioles against the Kansas City Royals. He was playing for AA Bowie Baysox at the time. He did not waste any time in repaying the O’s with the faith they had shown in him and smashed a two
run home-run in only his second Major League game. He became the youngest Orioles player and the 12th youngest player in MLB to have a multi-homer game. His efforts sealed a win for his team.
His regular season in 2012 was nothing short of remarkable. He managed 26 RBI’s with seven home-runs in 51 regular season games that he played in. A batting average of .262 in his rookie year was also quite impressive. Machado’s performance in September,
where he hit at .289 also showed him maturing as a batter in the Major League and getting accustomed to the pressure.
Machado’s post-season was not as bright as he went 3-for-19, though his homer against the New York Yankees in a losing cause in Game 3 of American League Championship Series suggested that he can deliver in adverse conditions as well. Incidentally in the
same game, Ryan Flaherty also hit a home-run for the Birds which are the first occasion in MLB when two rookies hit their first post-season home-runs in one game. He also became the youngest batter in the history of the Orioles to have a post-season hit.
Being a spectacular shortstop and with his ability to hit, he has quickly drawn comparisons with New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, incidentally another gem of a player hailing from Miami. Machado himself plays such comparisons down and considers A-Rod as
a mentor. He has been praised by his team-mates for his good work as well. J.J. Hardy feels that he is well ahead of his years as a player and said, “He’s really aware of everything that’s going on out there and he seems really calm. He’s been great.”
Jim Thome, a 21 year veteran also expressed his delight at the performance of the youngster who was born 10 months after Jim started his career. He added, “As a veteran guy, it’s nice to see and be a part of that and watch a young guy with great poise, with
great attitude.”
The Baltimore Orioles in 2012 made it to the post-season for the first time in 15 years. It was also their first winning season in the same period. It was a true team effort and Manny Machado most certainly played his part both with the bat and in the field.
He will certainly be an important part of the Orioles’ plans for the future.
A youngster with his ability and poise will go a long way and one day has his name written amongst some of the very best in the history of the game.
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