PHILADELPHIA -- Add another milestone to a season full of them for Manny Machado: He’s now a seven-time All-Star.
Machado earned the starting nod at third base for the National League, marking the fourth time he’ll start the All-Star Game and the second time he’ll do so representing the Padres.
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“It’s pretty cool,” Machado said. “Obviously, I think the best part about it is the fans voted -- thanks to all those people who put their time into it and recognized what we’ve been doing. It’s pretty cool.”
Machado finished Wednesday’s doubleheader in Philadelphia slashing .289/.351/.471 with 13 home runs, and he entered the day leading all National League third basemen with 2.5 WAR, according to FanGraphs.
Machado beat out Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy for the starting nod in the final round of fan voting. That means he’ll start at third base for the National League in the game, which takes place on July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
When he does, Machado will join Tony Gwynn (10), Benito Santiago (three) and Steve Garvey (two) as the only Padres to start multiple All-Star Games. His two starts account for half of the franchise’s all-time All-Star starts at third base. Graig Nettles (1985) and Ken Caminiti (1997) also started there.
Machado reached the 350-homer milestone last month and, after a three-run double in Game 1, he’s now just five hits shy of 2,000. It’s quite a list of career accomplishments -- the types of accomplishments that make you a seven-time All-Star.
Machado last made a trip to the Midsummer Classic in 2022. But his ‘23 and ‘24 campaigns were injury plagued, and he underwent extensor tendon surgery in between the two seasons. To his credit, he mostly played through the injuries, but he wasn’t his usual self.
He has been this year. Still, Machado didn’t seem to think this trip to the All-Star Game was particularly special -- “they all are,” he said. But there’s one thing he’s most looking forward to.
“It’s my son’s first one,” said Machado, who became a father last April. “That’ll be pretty cool. That’ll be special. I’m excited.”
In what’s been an up-and-down season for San Diego, Machado has been as steady as ever, leading the team in hits, doubles and OPS.
“Manny’s an anchor of our organization, not just our team,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “When you have guys that are that, and then they go back it up on the field, that’s what the big boys do. And Manny’s a big boy. It’s very, very, very well-deserved.
“One of the best words I can use is just ‘anchor.’ He’s really an anchor to a lot of what we do here. He’s just a steady presence.”
Machado was the only Padre among the finalists for a starting spot in the All-Star Game. Pitchers and reserves will be announced on Sunday, with several candidates remaining for San Diego.
Among them are right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and right-hander Nick Pivetta. In the bullpen, the Padres have a few potential All-Stars as well, though the candidacy of closer Robert Suarez has recently taken a hit. Still, he’s tied for the Major League lead with 24 saves.