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After suffering consecutive season-ending knee injuries in 2013 and 2014, many people wondered if Manny Machado would ever become the potential superstar he was supposed to be heading into the 2015 MLB season. Well, the 23-year-old third baseman has quieted those doubters with a breakout performance this year for the Baltimore Orioles. The former No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft is proving his worth as a franchise player and one of the baseball’s brightest young talents.
In 2013, Machado showed why he was so highly touted coming into the league, displaying a smooth swing and remarkable defensive ability. His 51 doubles led the league, earning him the first All-Star selection of his career. Machado’s outstanding defense resulted in a Platinum Glove Award, which is given to the best defender at any position. But in September of 2013, a freak accident occurred when Machado rounded first base after getting a hit against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was diagnosed with a left knee injury and his promising season was over.
Machado returned to the Orioles’ lineup in May of 2014 and began regaining his form, though there would be a few bumps along the road. During a series with the Oakland Athletics in June, Machado was involved in a number of incidents that resulted in a bench-clearing brawl and ultimately a five-game suspension. His actions resembled those of an immature 21-year-old, and the message clearly got through to him. Unfortunately for Machado, his 2014 season would end in a similar fashion with another knee injury and surgery.
It was difficult to predict how Machado would perform and respond to the adversity in 2015, but he appeared healthy and focused heading into the year. After a slow start in April and May, Machado turned it on in June, batting .365 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 28 games. His strong performance resulted in an All-Star selection and an invitation to participate in the 2015 MLB Home Run Derby. Machado’s “here to stay” moment came in the seventh inning of the All-Star Game when he drilled a double off Fransisco Rodriguez to put the AL up 4-2.
One could argue that the second knee injury was the best thing to happen to Machado — certainly not for his physical health, but for his mental well-being. It must’ve been a humbling experience to go through the recovery process again and likely placed a chip on his shoulder coming into this year. Machado had something to prove in 2015, and he has done everything and more to confirm the belief that he’s one of the best young players in the league.
The sky is the limit for Machado, who has the potential to become a perennial .300 hitter with 30-plus homers for many years. He’ll eventually move to shortstop, his natural fielding position, when J.J. Hardy‘s contract expires or he retires in 2019. Saying that we haven’t seen the best defensive plays from Machado yet is what has Orioles fans excited about the future. If it weren’t for some guy named Mike Trout, Machado would be on his way to multiple AL MVP awards. But his performance this year shows that he deserves to be mentioned in the same category as Trout, Bryce Harper and Carlos Correa when discussing the brightest young superstars in the game today.
Ben Linton is a MLB writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @Ben_Linton91, or add him to your network on Google.
