The Dominican third baseman reported to his team’s training sessions after undergoing a surgical procedure at the end of the last MLB season.
Manny Machado’s 2023 season ended on a negative note as his injury-plagued year led to a disappointing season for his team. The injury in his right elbow had been bothering him for two years, ultimately leading to surgery to repair the tendon that had caused him to miss playing time throughout 2023.
Despite hoping to avoid surgery, Machado decided to undergo the procedure and focus on preparing for the 2024 season. Now, as the start of spring training approaches, Machado has joined the San Diego Padres and is making progress in his rehabilitation.
“The rehab has been amazing. Right now, I feel good. I have no problems hitting or throwing, it’s just about working on regaining my arm strength,” said Machado during his first appearance at training. He has been working on both hitting and throwing for over a month, indicating positive progress.
The Padres have expressed confidence and happiness with Machado’s recovery progress, with manager AJ Preller stating, “He has made it through every point of his rehab this offseason. I know he wants to be ready to play in Korea. So far, things point to that.”
However, Machado has made it clear that he will not rush his rehabilitation process. “There are no expectations. It’s just a matter of seeing what my body tells me and how far I can go, how far I can push it. At the same time, I have to be smart about the situation, it’s a long season. Right now, I’m feeling good,” he stated.
Despite playing the fewest games of his career in 2023, Machado still managed to maintain some impressive statistics, including 30 home runs and 91 RBIs. Despite the injury, he maintained a slugging percentage of .462.
As Machado continues his rehabilitation process, the Padres and their fans are hopeful to see him back in top form for the 2024 season.