The San Diego Padres have lost eight of their last 10 games and might now have an even harder time getting out of a slump after their star slugger Manny Machado was diagnosed with a small fracture in his left hand.
Machado was hit by a pitch in a 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals earlier this week, and it was initially believed he got away unscathed. However, further tests revealed that there is a fracture, and there is a possibility that the 30-year-old player will land on the injured list.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Machado said that the swelling has come down, and he gained his range of motions. The Padres’ medical team is now monitoring the injury and will decide on the next steps in the following days.
“We’re kind of giving it a couple of days to let the bone heal for a little bit before we move on to something else,” Machado said while confirming IL is an option.
Manny Machado has struggled just like the rest of the Padres in 2023, batting .231 with five homers and 19 RBIs. Machado is in the first year of his massive 11-year, $350 million extension he signed with the Padres in the offseason.
