Yet Another Milestone This Season: Manny Machado Hits 300th Career Home Run

(Article image creds: Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Originally published July 17th, 2023, for Kill That Noise (edited and revised)

Love him or hate him, Manny Machado is one heck of a player. On Saturday, July 15th, the San Diego Padres third baseman hit his 300th career home run in Philadelphia in game one of their day/night doubleheader.

In the top of the 8th inning, facing his former Padre teammate, Matt Strahm, Machado drove a ball into deep left field–into the second deck; a knock broke the tie late in the game, putting the Friars ahead 4-3. Despite the lead Machado gave his team, the Phillies ultimately won 6-4 by scoring three runs in the bottom of the 8th.

There have been two other players to record their 300th homer this season: Dodgers players Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez. In addition to hitting his 300th home run, Freeman recorded his 2000th hit this season. Andrew McCutchen is three big flys away from 300 homers, so we can expect the Pirates’ fan-favorite player to reach the milestone, too, having reached the 2000 hit milestone earlier this season. If he does hit three more this season, he will join Freddie Freeman in reaching the 2000 hit and 300-homer milestones in the same season.

Manny Machado continues to prove himself to the baseball community every season, why he is so great, and why he got his massive $350 million contract over 11 seasons this past winter. His 300th career home run puts him even closer into the Hall of Fame conversation when his career is over.