Machado breaks Padres HR record that lasted half a century
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SEATTLE -- Manny Machado is alone atop the Padres' home run leaderboard.
His sixth-inning drive during San Diego's 7-3 victory over the Mariners on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park was the 164th home run of his six-year Padres tenure, moving him past slugger Nate Colbert into the top spot.
Machado fell behind 1-2 in the count against Seattle’s George Kirby in his third at-bat and fouled off a pair of offerings before turning on a 96.5 mph fastball, smashing it a Statcast-projected 429 feet out to dead center for a two-run homer that put San Diego up, 5-2.
As he came around to cross home plate, T-Mobile Park momentarily turned brown and yellow, with an audible chant of “Manny, Manny, Manny” ringing out from San Diego fans in the crowd.
A member of the Padres’ inaugural 1969 team, Colbert was renowned for his immense power and regarded as the franchise’s first star player. Colbert, who played for the club through 1974, passed away in 2023 at the age of 76. He had been atop that leaderboard after every season of the team’s existence.
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Machado moved into a tie with Colbert on Friday in San Diego with the second of two home runs against the Giants. His first homer that night moved him past Adrián González into second place. Last month, he passed Dave Winfield and Phil Nevin. Last season, he passed Tony Gwynn.
“Just to be up there with the names that are up there -- you got legends that have played in this organization, [guys] that are in the Hall of Fame,” Machado said Friday. “Just to be a part of that, it’s a blessing. It’s special, for sure.”
Machado’s 164 homers since coming to San Diego on a $300 million deal prior to the 2019 season are eighth most in baseball in that time. His 339 career home runs rank sixth among active players.